44 Dr. J. E. Gray on Euplectella speciosa. 



X. — Further Observations on Venus' s Flower-basket (Euplectella 

 speciosa). By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S. &c. 



On the same day that the account of this beautiful Sponge 

 appeared in the former Number of the ' Annals/ Henry Cheva- 

 lier, Esq., commander of the ship ^ Simeon,^ most kindly pre- 

 sented to the British Museum a couple of these sponges, one of 

 them containing the crab that is said to form them. He ob- 

 serves that the name given to them is Rigederos. The coral is 

 " worked by two insects at the bottom of the sea, at a great 

 depth (40 fathoms). The first were discovered by fishermen 

 near Cebu or Zebu, one of the Philippine Islands, about twelve 

 months ago.^^ 



Accompanying these two specimens is another very young 

 one, in a very early stage qf development. 



It is evident* from the latter specimen that the sponges com- 

 mence by developing a number of elongated free spicules placed 

 in a ring. These free spicules form the fringe round the base 

 of the fully developed sponge, and are more developed in some 

 specimens than in others; and, no doubt, in some specimens 

 many of them are removed. 



Within this ring of free spicules a number of longitudinal 

 bundles of spicules are formed, making an inner ring, and these 

 are crossed by the horizontal bundles of spicules, which connect 

 the longitudinal bundles together, like hoops on a cask, forming 

 the network with square meshes that constitutes the framework 

 of the complete sponge. 



The number of slender filiform spicules in the longitudinal 

 erect and in the horizontal hoop-like bundles are few at first ; 

 but their number is gradually increased in each bundle as the 

 skeleton requires greater strength for its support. 



Eventually the whole outer surface of the sponge is strength- 

 ened with elevated, transverse and oblique, often anastomosing 

 ridges of shorter spicules ; and the mouth of the tube is covered 

 over with a' network of short fibres, and its edge furnished with 

 a fringe. 



It would appear, from one of the specimens in the Museum 

 collection, that the network over the cavity of the tube is com- 

 menced as soon as the tube has reached its proper length, and 

 that it, and the ridges on the outer surface, and the fringe are 

 each then deposited. 



In a note just received from M, Trimoulet, fils, of Bordeaux, 

 ofi^ering other specimens, he observes it has been described as a 

 sponge; but "d'apres les renseignements que j'ai et que je pub- 

 lierai prochainement, j'ai tout lieu de penser que c'est le nid d^un 

 crustace de la section des Isopodes nageurs.^' So the Spanish 

 fishermen's theory has found one scientific supporter at least. 



