Mr. 11. J. Carter on the Genus Rossella. 119 



going description, but much larger and lunger, increasing in 



size towards the lower part, where tiiey are inches in len"-tli. 



B. Stnictural, the same as in the foregoing .species, but with 



no spines on the shaft or arms of the crucially headed one. 



c. Flesh-spicules of eight forms (see 'Annals,' 1873, vol. xii. 



pi. xiii.), viz. figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 12 inclusively, only 



that figs. 2, 3, and 4 in B. j^hilippensis are su])Sj)inous in all 



their parts. Size of the largest specimen, which is cup-shaped 



(fig. 1), 2 inches high, and 2yV inches by l-^v inch wide at the 



orifice ; cup 1 inch deep, with thick rounded margin. Longest 



hair-like locks of anchoring-spicules 6 inches. Size of ovo- 



globular specimen H by 1^ inch in its greatest diameters. 



Size of the three other specimens, which are younger, globular, 



and linked together by the hair-like locks of the largest (as 



in figs. 1 & 2,/), different, probably in accordance with their 



ages respectively. 



Hub. Marine. 



Loc. Cebu, Philippine Islands. 



Obs. The hexactinellid character of the spicules of this 

 sponge, coupled with its four-hooked anchoring-spicule (no, 2) 

 as described in the last species, at once proves it to be a Iios- 

 sella ; and the absence of the crucially headed veil-spicule 

 from the surface of the body generally (that is, tlie absence of 

 the "veil "), whose presence is so characteristic of R. antarctica 

 and B. velata, further proves it to be the B. p)hiUppensis of 

 Dr. Gray. To this we might add the much greater develop- 

 ment in size and length of the groups of anchoring-spicules, 

 the absence of spines on the arms of the large crucially headed 

 structui-al spicules of the body, and the absence, for the most 

 part, of the outer and inner arm of the latticework sexradiate 

 spicule of the surface, thus leaving the four horizontal ones 

 alone developed ; while the absence of the erect fringe of spi- 

 cules around the aperture, whose presence is so characteristic 

 of R. antarctica, further distinguishes it from that species. 



It is not improbable that the " cup-like form " above de- 

 scribed and figured (PI. X. fig. 1) has had its cavity and 

 shape worn do^vn, and has become modified generally into 

 its present condition from a younger and more globular form 

 with contracted aperture, somewhat like fig. 2 ; while, so far 

 as these changes go, there may be similar differences between 

 the older and younger forms also oiR. antarctica ; but although 

 such may be thus anticipated, I am not, from the few speci- 

 mens from which I have had to write my descriptions, able to 

 make the statement with certainty. 



In studying the Spongida it will be found that the general 

 form so often varies, that alone it is not to be depended on as 



