Suberites domuncula, Nardo. 35 
the Sponges (‘ Annals,’ 1882, vol. x. p. 364), Ihave only to 
add here that, accompanying the ova of Aplysina corneostellata 
especially, which are about 1-120th inch in diameter, there 
are in my specimen many smaller spherical bodies averaging 
only 1-360th inch, which in size do not appear to be a 
second set of ova, although when dyed with aniline red they 
all (both ova and these bodies) become equally tinged and 
much more so than the other parts; but being respectively 
surrounded by a capsule formed of granuliferous cells, 1t 1s 
almost impossible to say what appearance their respective 
contents otherwise present. I think I can see the same also 
among the ova of Isodictya simulans, where the granulated 
appearance of thedr contents is not obscured by a capsule of 
this kind; and certainly in a thin slice of Grantia compressa, 
whose spongozoa in the living state were successfully fed with 
indigo, so that all the other elements (viz. larva, ova, and 
these granuliferous cells) remain uncoloured, while the blue 
spongozoa mark out the ampullaceous sacs with a sharpness 
which prevents all confusion ; but whether these granuliferous 
bodies were spermatic or not I am unable to decide. It may 
not be unworthy of remark here, that while examining the 
freshwater sponges of Bombay, in 1856, I noticed granulife- 
rous cells which seemed to me to be spermatic, and thus de- 
scribed them “ provisionally’? under the head of “ sperma- 
tozoids”” (‘ Annals,’ 1856, vol. xviil. p. 227). 
Lastly, another instance of the presence of spermatozoa In 
sponges has lately been added by Dr. N. Poléjaeff, of the 
University of Gratz, which was obtained from an examination 
of Sycandra raphanus, Hickel, in the living state, by making 
very thin slices and examining them under a high microscopic 
power, afterwards followed by the application of osmic acid 
and alum-carmine, to render the tail or cilium more evident 
(“ Ueber das Sperma und die Spermatogenese bei Sycandra 
raphanus, Hickel,” Separat-Abdruck aus dem lxxxvi. Bande 
der Sitzb. der k. Akad. Wissensch. 1 Abth. Nov. Heft, Jahrg. 
1882; read 16th Nov. 1882). But still there is no character 
given to the spermatic cell, as I have before noticed, by which 
it may be satisfactorily recognized by the inexperienced 
student, if, indeed, there be any such ; and, so far as the granu- 
lation goes, it is as conjectural to me now as it was in 1856. 
Allusion is made (p. 4) to my also conjectural figures of 
the spermatozoon in Grantia compressa (‘ Annals,’ vol. xiv. 
p- 108, pl. x. figs. 21-23), which are so much more like the 
monociliated cells of the larva at a very early period than the 
spermatozoa of Sycandra raphanus represented by Dr. Polé- 
jaeff, that I am now more inclined than ever to regard 
them as such. 
3* 
