26 M. C. Semper on Eiiplectella aspergillum. 



be referred to the genus HelicograpsuSj viz. H. gracilis^ Hall, 

 sp. ; and it is distinguished by the following characters : — 



Frond compound, consisting of a tubular S-shaped funicle, 

 which gives off two sets of monoprionidian branches, one 

 from each of the convex portions of the curve, in the man- 

 ner described under the genus. The ^^ funicle " itself is 

 very slender, and in some specimens shows traces of a small 

 triangular radicle in its centre. The celluliferous branches 

 are from eight to twelve in number {i. e. four to six in each 

 set) in most of our specimens ; but they are as many as 

 thirty-three in an example figured by Hall. The first 

 branches are almost rectangular to the funicle, but the later 

 ones become gradually less so. They are very narrow at 

 their commencement, but widen out till a breadth of 4-V to 

 -3-L- inch may be attained ; and this would doubtless be ex- 

 ceeded in larger specimens. The cellules are from twenty- 

 five to thirty in the space of an inch, inclined to the axis at 

 a small angle, the cell-mouths rectangular to the axis, and 

 running partially across the stipe. 



Log. Common, and tolerably well preserved, in the anthra- 

 citic shales of Glenkiln Burn, in Dumfriesshire. Rare in the 

 black slates of Cairn Ryan, Wigtonshire. 



III. — A few words on Euplectella aspergillum, Owen^ and its 

 Inhabitants. By C. Semper*. 



The last numbers of the ^ Annals of Natural History,^ for 

 December 1866 (p. 487) and January 1867 (p. 44), gave us 

 two small memoirs by John Edward Gray upon a Sponge 

 from the Philippines which was known to the travellers Quoy 

 and Gaimard, and more accurately described by Owen, in 1841, 

 under the generic name oi Ewplectella, Apparently this Sponge 

 has hitherto been one of the greatest rarities in our museums ; 

 and it is only within the last few years that a greater number 

 of specimens, derived from the Philippines, have come to Eu- 

 rope. As I believe that I have no unimportant share in this 

 increase of museum treasures, and have had the opportunity 

 of seeing a considerable number of them, both here and in the 

 Philippines, I will venture to make a few remarks upon them. 

 So long as I had only a few claims of priority to make, I 

 thought I might keep silence ; but now, when it appears as 



* Translated by W. S. Dallas, F.L.S. &c., from Wiegmann's * Archiv," 

 1867, pp. 84-89. 



