Miscellaneous. 67 



H. J. Carter, in his paper, " Description of Laharla hemispJicfrica, 

 Gray, a new Species of Hexactinellid Sponge, with Observations on 

 it and the Sarcohexactinellid Sponges generally," Ann. & Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. xi. p. 278, says " Loc. unknown, from Singapore." 



I beg to state that I obtained these sponges (as noticed in my 

 letter to Dr. Gray from Singapore) from the reefs in the sea near 

 the village TaUsay, on the island of Cebu, Philippine Islands, in 

 March 1872, on the same spot as the other new sponges obtained by 

 me there and described by Dr. Gray in ' Annals,' x. p. 110, 1872, 

 viz. Meyerina clavifonnis, C rateromorpha Meyeri, and Rosselht 

 philippinensis. 



The sponges from these reefs, in the straits between the island of 

 Cebu, some small islets near it, and the island of Bohol, are best to 

 be got in the months March tUl August (the most favourable month 

 is May) at full moon, when the current in the straits is very strong. 

 The fishers drive with the current and draw behind them in their 

 little boats long lines with small hooks constructed for the purpose. 

 Therefore a little hole can be seen in nearly all sjiecimens of Euplec- 

 tella asper(jiUum and others, where the hook has destroyed the sub- 

 stance of the sponge. Some species are only found in great depths, 

 50 fathoms for instance ; and only a few fishermen are skilful enough 

 for sponge-fishing. 



II Wallfischgasse, Vienna, 



Nov. 14, 1873. 



Gigantic Cuttlefishes in Newfoundland. 



As the question of the existence of Cephalopoda of large size may 

 stiU be regarded as to a certain extent open to doubt, the following 

 letter from the Rev. M. Harvey of St. John's, Newfoundland, to 

 Principal Dawson possesses considerable interest. 



St. John's, Newfoundland, 

 Nov. 12, 1873. 



My dear Doctok, — I take the liberty of bringing under your notice 

 some account of a gigantic cuttlefish which was seen a few days 

 ago in Conception Bay. The circumstances under which it was 

 seen were as follows : — Two fishermen were out in a small punt, on 

 October 20, off Portugal Cove, Conception Bay, about 9 miles from 

 St. John's. Observing some object floating on the water at a short 

 distance, they rowed towards it, supposing it to be a large sail or 

 the debris of a wreck. On reaching it, one of the men struck it with 

 his " gaff"," when immediately it showed signs of life, reared a parrot- 

 like beak, which they declare was *' as big as a six-gallon keg," 

 with which it struck the bottom of the boat violently. It then shot 

 out from about its head two huge livid arms and began to twine 

 them round the boat. One of the men seized a small axe and 

 severed both arms a.s they lay over the gunwale of the boat, where- 

 upon the fish moved off and ejected an immense quantity of inky 

 fluid, which darkened the water for two or three liundred yards. 

 The men saw it for a short time afterwards, and observed its tail 



