^[r. T. Iliggiii on Liibarla liemis|)IiaM-icii. liH') 



ciiil at tlu' suinniit in a little conical point, aft'ords ample 

 nj)p(utunity in //. htsifaiiiriiiu to search for the '' spinieriices " 

 throughout its whole len,i;th within the .sj)()nge-hea(l ; tor it 

 is covered, even to the end of the '' conical point," with the 

 sponge-structure, especially the little dermal plumose spicule, 

 though I cannot detect the " spinicruces " in any part of the 

 cord or sponge-head above the place indicated. 



Moreover, where the Polype is present, it is the sarcodic 

 layer immediately in contact with the cord which is so densely 

 charged with those beautiful little spined s(;xradiates, and 

 which, in some instances, evidently extends downwards beyond 

 the integument of the Polype ; so that altogether the Polype 

 must be considered to have no part in their production, while 

 the "spinicruces" must therefore be viewed as the hexactinellid 

 form of spicule (with its variations) peculiar to the sarcodic 

 investment of the cord. 



Laharia kemisj^Jifvrica, Gray. PI. XXII. fig. 3. 



This species has already been described by Mr. H. J. Carter 

 ('Annals,' 1873, ser. 4, vol. xi. p. 275), from the sponge named 

 by the late Dr. J. E. Gray in his communication published 

 in the same volume at page 235. !Mr. Carter, however, soon 

 became aware that the specimen placed in his hands for de- 

 scription was not in its natural state ; and tlie discovery that 

 the brush-like appendage apparently growing out from the 

 centre of the base had been artificially placed there, and was 

 made up of spicules belonging to quite another species, led 

 him to think that the Avhisker-like spicules standing out froin 

 the sides of this specimen of Laharia were probably also a 

 native's fancy. It is fortunate therefore that a good specimen 

 lias now been brought to this country, with the anchoring- 

 spicules in situ, and without the " fraudulent tuft " wdiich the 

 British-Museum sponge possesses. In Mr. Carter's descrip- 

 tion, the "locality" whence Dr. Meyer's sponge was 

 obtained is thus stated, viz. " Unknown, from Singapore;" 

 but it was subsequently observed by Dr. 3.1eyer ('Annals,' 

 1874, ser. 4, vol. xiii. p. 66) that it was procured " from the 

 reefs in the sea near the village of Talisay, on the island of 

 Cebu, Philippine Islands;" and in explanation of the arti- 

 ficial condition of the sponge, in a letter to Dr. Gray {ibid. 

 p. 188), he explains that his " ]\Ialay boy was charged with 

 the business," and that " he or the fishermen may have done 

 the mischief." Dr. Meyer does not seem to have been present 

 when the specimen was got up ; but he adds that it was 

 obtained from the same ground as ^' Mei/erina clavceformit, 

 Crateromorpha Meyer i, and Iiossella plii/ippinensis.^^ 



