Mr. H. J. Carter on a Variety of Spongilla Meyeni. 249 
stated, “they [the seed-like bodies] are similar to what aré 
denominated the winter-ege's of Polypes’’*. 
I have also lately observed that the seed-like bodies in 
Sp. Cartert (which Spongilla grows rapidly round the stems 
of herbaceous plants during the six months that the upper 
parts of the freshwater tanks in Bombay are filled) are de- 
veloped towards the periphery, that Sp. plumosa developes 
its seed-like bodies throughout all parts of its structure 
almost equally, while the three other Bombay species deve- 
lope theirs respectively chiefly towards the base or first-formed 
arts. 
In Prof. James-Clark’s paper entitled “ Spongie ciliate 
as Infusoria flagellata,’ now being republished in the ‘An- 
nals,’ the author—after having most carefully exaniined 
Leucosolenia (Grantia) botryoides, Bowerbank, in connexion 
with a number of flagellate infusoria, both new and old in 
description—states his “conviction that the true ciliated 
a ag are not Rhizopoda in any sense whatever, nor even 
closely related to them, but aré genuine compound flagellate 
Protozoa.” 
Thus a flagellate infusorium would have to be considered 
the animal expréssion of Grantia; and if it can also be shown 
that these flagellate infusoria can reproduce their sponges re~ 
_ spectively, directly or indirectly, by the true process of genera= 
tion, and that all the sponge-cells which take in food, both 
ciliated and unciliated, receive it through an oral orifice, and 
not directly through any part of their bodies, then, so far, the 
Sporiges can be disconnected from the Rhizopoda, and, I expect, 
generally will have to be regarded in the light in which the 
sagacious Professor of Natural History in the Agricultural 
College of Pennsylvania views the Spongie ciliate. 
Still, if this be shown, I cannot yet see to what extent it 
could disassociate the Spongiade from the Rhizopoda, which 
evidently possess a like power of polymorphism. 
But Prof. Clark’s paper is far too able to justify a hasty 
conclusion or cursory criticism in any respect; arid’ therefore 
this is not the time or place for me to add more than that it 
appears to possess extraordinary merit, which will be realized 
the more it is studied by the practical microscopist, who at the 
same time feels sensible of the duty he is performing towards 
the public in directing their attention to that end of the scale 
of organized beings concerning which we are still so profoundly 
ignorant. 
P.S. Mr. Parfitt adds that Spongilla fluviatilis is plentiful 
* Johnston, Brit. Sponges, footnote, p. 154 : 1842. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Voi. i. 19 
