Mr. T. Iligf^iii on some Caribbean Sponges. 293 



riabellitorm ; and most are characterized by the presence of 

 the touf^h horny material usual in sponges of this family. 

 The individuals of the genus brought together from different 

 localities resemble each other so much that the differences 

 between them appear only sufficient to make them varieties of 

 one and the same s],)ecies. Those in the Liverpool Museum 

 from the west coast of Africa, therefore, have had given to 

 them a distinctive name having reference only to the locality 

 whence they were obtained, whilst the one from the south- 

 west of Ireland, though differing in form, has been regarded 

 as the British representative of the genus. 



Higginsia coralloideSy var. liheriensis. 



Two sponges possessing spicules similar to those of H. 

 coraUoideti, but differing from it in size, colour, and texture, 

 brought by Captain Davis from Cape Palmas, Avhere they had 

 been obtained by dredging, were presented to the Liverpool 

 Museum some months ago by Mr. R. J. Keen, one of our most 

 indefatigable collectors and contributors. They are fan-shaped, 

 of the same growth and form as the Grenada sponge, but are of 

 a dirty yellowish-brown colour, and the largest does not 

 exceed 3 inches in heiglit. The hardened sarcode, wiiieh 

 holds together the spicules composing the skeleton-network of 

 these sponges, is not of the same tough nature as that gene- 

 rally found in sponges of this order ; and though the stem has 

 the usual dense appearance, there is a comparative absence of 

 the tenacity which is ordinarily a characteristic feature in the 

 Echinonemata. The skeleton-spicule is a smooth bent acerate, 

 measuring 0*026 inch in length by 0*0013; and the subskele- 

 ton-spicule is a straight, smooth, hair-like spicule of the same 

 form, but of greater length ; while the sarcode spicule is a 

 spined acerate, sometimes gradually curved but oftener bent 

 eibowlike in the middle, measuring 0'003 inch in lengtii by 

 0'00025 at its thickest part. 



Higginsia coralloides, var. arcuata. 



This sponge, regarded as the British representative of the 

 West-Indian species, was obtained by the Rev. H. 11. Higgins 

 whilst on a visit to the south of Ireland about three years ago, 

 and brought home in spirits before any others of the same 

 genus had come into the possession of the Liverpool Museum. 

 It is not of erect growth, like the others, but was found 

 growing on the rock in masses of about 2 inches in diameter 

 by 1 to 1^ inch in thickness, of a fleshy nature and deep 

 brown-red colour. The main lines of the skeleton-structure 



Ann. a- Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. xix. 21 



