262 Prof. P. M. Duncan on the Oenus Hindia. 



which soon form a series of bifurcating, long, straight, radia- 

 ting canals, which open at the surface. The spicule element 

 is calcareous, more or less in the shape of a stemmed tripod, 

 with four limbs, and swollen or fringed at the ends, where 

 junction takes place in the others, 



" The skeleton is remarkable for its regularity. 



''^Hindia spJiceroidalisj mih 



" The sponge-body is spheroidal. On the surface are 

 papilliform eminences corresponding with the ends of canal- 

 spicules. Centrally the spicules are unattached, are tripod- 

 stemmed in shape, with swollen extremities, and have papil- 

 lose limbs. Canal-system occupying much space; canals 

 straight, narrow, radiating, opening into their neighbours, and 

 formed by combinations of tetraclade spicules resembling those 

 of the central part, and very regular in shape and size." 



It does not require much knowledge to become aware that 

 the last description enables any one to recognize the species, 

 and that the diagnosis by Rcemer is insufficient, incorrect, 

 and misleading. 



If Roemer's description is correct enough to carry the 

 specific name he gave, why did not Dr. Hinde give the readers 

 of his Cat. Fos. Sponges Brit. Mus. 1883, p. 57, the oppor- 

 tunity of having it before them ? The description there given 

 of the species cannot be made to tally with Rosmer's, and it 

 is not that which I wrote. It is a new one by Dr. Hinde ; 

 and I am free to confess it is not an improvement, especially as 

 it introduces the erroneous statement that from four to six short 

 arms radiate in different directions. Six arms are not found. 



Dr. Hinde in his paper offers new evidence against the 

 adoption of the specific name which I gave to Hindia. 

 He says " Prof. Duncan does not seem to be aware that 

 even if he substantiated his claim to the name he proposed as 

 against that of Ecemer, there is yet another bar to its adop- 

 tion, since the same species in the interval between Eoemer's 

 and Duncan's work was described by Prof. Hall, of Albany, 

 under the title of Astylospongia inornataJ'^ 



Then follows the extraordinary admission^ " The description 

 in this case is indeed very meagre, and, as no figures are 

 given, it might j/wiV/t/ he alleged'^ that it is insufficient for the 

 recognition of the species " ! The critic proceeds, " That, 

 however, x\\Q.A.inornata^ Hall, is the same as Hindia fibrosa ^ 

 Ecemer, I am fairly confident *, as I have myself collected 



* Italics mine. 



