Miscellaneous. 237 



We have had two specimens of this variety in the British Museum 

 since 1859 ; and more lately, Mr. Jamrach has sent me five or six 

 specimens, of different sizes, to examine, which he had received from 

 North Australia. Some of the specimens are larger and rather more 

 ventricose than any of the typical form that I have seen. The two 

 specimens of this variety in the Museum have the suture rather im- 

 pressed ; but I believe this is only an accidental circumstance. 



3. J. T. liroderipi. The shell solid, and like No. 1 ; but the 

 streaks are very narrow, linear, and more or less acutely sinuated, 

 sometimes anastomosing and forming a network. 



There are two specimens of this variety in the Museum — one from 

 Mr. Broderip's collection. 



-X. A. T. Damonii. Shell- with close angular intersecting lines, 

 forming crowded triangular spots on the surtace ; the sutural callo- 

 sity very dark. 



This shell, which was sent to the British Museum by Mr. Damon, 

 is marked much like Oliva texturata. It diflFcrs from Amoria 

 reticulata, with which it has been confounded, iu the shell being less 

 ventricose. 



5. A. T. Cuniinyii. Like the former ; but the netted lines are 

 much firmer, and there are two spiral scries of small irregular spots. 



A small specimen in the British Museum collection, the most 

 beautiful variety of the series, received, in 1859, with^.jT. Jamrachii, 

 as Voluta pertusa. 



(). A. T. marulata. Shell pale brown, with two spiral series of 

 large squarish dark spots, and a series of large irregular spots near 

 the suture. {Valuta mnculata, Swainson, ZooL Illust. t. .) 



7. A. T. pallida. Shell pale brown, nearly uniform in colour, but 

 sometimes marked with more or less distinct brown spiral bands, or 

 with transverse stripes or very obscure netted lines. {Valuta pallida. 

 Gray.) 



I am aware that some conchologists may be inclined to regard 

 these varieties as species, though I have seen specimens which seem 

 to unite all of them into one series : I have therefore chosen for 

 them names by which they may be so designated. 



On the Motory Phenomena of the Sponges. 



By N. LlEBERKUHN. 



Of the movements hitherto observed in Sponges, some are con- 

 cerned with portions of the skin and efferent tubes, and others with 

 isolated cells. 



During the contraction of the efferent tubes, the wall of these 

 organs becomes thickened by shortening, and its surface becomes 

 mamillated, allowing us to recognize the limits of cells which were 

 previously indistinct. The movements of the integument consist in 

 an approximation or separation of the parenchyma of the body, and 

 also in the opening and closing of the pores of ingestion. The iso- 

 lated cells are capable of changing their form, so as to present, for 

 example, alternately a spherical and a stellate appearance. Hitherto 

 no one has observed any displacement of cells ; but movements of this 



