Philipjiine-Iskind Sponges. 137 



Farrea., where the spicules are united hy their rays but im- 

 bedded in ghxssy fibre ; hence, as Mr, Carter observes, Dr. 

 Bowerbank's mistake of calling it " fistulous siliceous fibre " 

 (B. S.) ; whereas in the genus Holtenia and allied genera the 

 cruciform rays of the hexaradiate spicules are placed obliquely 

 with regard to the axis, forming a network of rhombic meshes. 

 This sponge evidently belongs to the first group of the 

 Coralliospongia, and the first section of them, as defined in my 

 paper above referred to (p. 450), and will form a family distinct 

 from those there defined, which may be thus characterized : — 



Fam. Crateromorphidae. 



Sponge cup-shaped, attached by an elongated pedicel, formed 

 of numerous short spicules. Body of sponge covered externally 

 with hexaradiate spicules, the outer ray of which is aborted, 

 placed in longitudinal and transverse lines, making a square 

 mesh ; hollow, with large oscules, which diminish in size as 

 they reach the margin of the cup. Stem formed of nvmierous 

 cylindrical tubes, situated in a spiculous felt ] ending in a 

 bunch of filaments sunk in the mud. 



Rossella ijiliillppensis. 



Dr. Meyer also brought from Cebu a sponge the size of a 

 moderately large walnut (that is, about 1^ inch long), regular, 

 oblong, smootli, thick, spongy, truncated at the top, with 

 large circular apertures, and with a large deep cavity occupy- 

 ing nearly the wliole of tlie body of the sponge. The hinder 

 half of the sponge has sundry distant cylindrical tufts of clou- 

 gated siliceous fibres spreading out from the sponge and then 

 directed backwards. 



This is very like the Tetilla 'polyura of Schmidt (Atlantic 

 Sponge-Fauna, t. vi. f. 8), the type of my genus Lophurella] 

 but the Philippine sponge is oblong, longer than broad, smooth 

 on the external surface, and truncated above, with a large 

 mouth, in fact like a round-based tumbler. 



If this is the young state of another sponge of a different 

 form, which is possible, it is a giant of its kind. The Tetilla 

 pohjura of Schmidt is only \ inch long ; and the young form 

 of Tetliya anfardica described by j\Ir. Carter is much smaller, in 

 fact microscopic ; whereas this is more than an inch long and 

 comparatively broad, and resembles the goblet oiCrateromorpha 

 Meyeri. It is not the young of that sponge, as Mr. Carter 

 shows that the spicules are markedly different ; and we have 

 no other Philippine sponge of which it could be the young. 

 Mr. Carter has kindly sent me the following account of his ex- 

 amination of the sponge ; — 



