158 Prof. M. Schultze on Hyalonema. 



plectella. By this, notwithstanding many differences in other 

 respects in the form of the spicules, the affinity of the two 

 genera is proved ; for, as far as our present investigations reach, 

 this character is met with in no other sponge. Dr. Gray had 

 lately the very great kindness of his own accord to send me a 

 few spicules from a Euplectella from the Philippines, recently 

 received at the British Museum. The microscopic examina- 

 tion of these furnished precisely the same result as my pre- 

 vious examinations in Leyden. These spicules, also, all possess 

 the transverse canal, and among the cruciform the three-armed 

 specimens (taf. iii. fig. 18 of my book) predominate. 



Thus, therefore, 1 believe, the mystery of the nature of Hyalo- 

 nema is solved; and at the same time we have found a near 

 relative of the remarkable organism, so that we must take into 

 consideration its systematic arrangement. In Hyalonema and 

 Euplectella we have to do with siliceous sponges (Halichondria) 

 without horny fibres, distinguished by a tuft (cord) of long 

 siliceous spicules, which projects from one extremity of the 

 sponge-body. I give these the name of "Crested Sponges" 

 (LoPHOSPONGi^ *), and they form a family with two genera — 

 (1) Hyalonema (Gray), from Japan, and (2) Euplectella (Owen), 

 from the Philippines. 



Dr. Gray, in his memoir already repeatedly cited, mentions a 

 specimen of Hyalonema particularly favourable to his opinion, 

 which was received by Professor Barboza du Bocage of Lisbon 

 from a friend, to whom it was brought by a Portuguese sailor, 

 who professed to have fished it up off that coast. I must admit 

 that the study of the memoir by Professor Barboza in the * Pro- 

 ceedings of the Zoological Society of London' (June 1864) has 

 not impressed me with the notion that this Portuguese specimen 

 can in the least alter the position of the question as to the 

 nature of Hyalonema. For similar specimens of Hyalonema^ in 

 which the inferior sponge is wanting, are plentiful enough in 

 collections, and a careful examination of them shows that they 

 have been injured. But that the Portuguese specimen was not 

 injured, we have not the least evidence. Whether, from the 

 statements of Professor Barboza du Bocage we are to ascribe to 

 the Hyalonemata a wider geographical range than the sea around 

 Japan, is another question, which I will not decide. In any 

 case 1 should have preferred waiting for further information as 

 to the occurrence of Hyalonema on the Portuguese coast before 

 venturing to cite Lusitania side by side with Japan as a certain 

 habitat of these singular sponges. 



Addendum. — I see from the November part of the ' Annals,' 

 which has just reached me, that Dr. Bowerbank, in a reply to 

 * From \6(f)os, a crest, or tuft of feathers. 



