Mr. H. J. Carter's Answer to Dr. Boioerhank. 141 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE IX. 



Fig. 1. The adult frond. 



Fig, 2. The worn stems of an adult frond ; part of the network still 

 remaining. 



Fig. 3. A j^ouug specimen with root dried after being soaked in fresh water. 



Fig. 4. Part of the frond magnified, showing the imperfect meshes in pro- 

 cess of formation on the margin. 



XXII. — Answer to Dr. BowerbanJvS " Observations on Mr. 



Carter^ s 2'x^P^^ dL'C." in the last Number of the ^ Annals.^ 



By H. J. Carter, F.R.S. &c. 

 In reply to Dr. Bowerbank's criticisms on my paper " On 

 two new Sponges from the Antarctic Sea &c.," in the ^Annals' 

 of last June, I can only state that I shall be quite satisfied 

 with the verdict that a perusal of our respective papers may 

 give. I employ no artist, make my own drawings, write my 

 own descriptions to the best of my ability, and with nothing 

 to compensate me but the hope that I am communicating the 

 truth, and, in many instances, saving future students from 

 losing time in labouring to understand that which too fre- 

 quently is imaginary, misconceived, or utterly unintelligible. 



Truly it has been said, that " of all extravagance, waste of 

 time is the greatest;" and what is this but a grievous waste 

 entailed upon posterity (if his works ever reach it) of an ig- 

 norant or unscrupulous author. 



In criticising Dr. Bowerbank's publications I am not criti- 

 cising Dr. Bowerbank (personally we should not know each 

 other in the street), but simply, as I have before stated, en- 

 deavouring to save time for those who may come after us in 

 similar inquiries. 



Controversial disputes afford very little interest to any but 

 the parties immediately concerned, and therefore ought not to be 

 allowed to occupy the pages of a valuable scientific journal. 



Dr. Bowerbank's and my own descriptions are now before 

 the public ; and a practical examination of them concerns the 

 public and posterity much more than it will ever concern us. 



I have not time to make finished drawings, but my sketches, 

 I have no doubt, will serve, at least diagrammatically, with 

 my descriptions to convey the meaning I intend to an intel- 

 ligent naturalist. 



Besides, however " talented and accurate a microscopical 

 artist" may be. Dr. Bowerbank will hardly deny, I should 

 think, what Dr. Schmidt states on this subject at the end of 

 the preface to his work on the Adriatic Sponges, viz. : — " Ein 

 Maler von Profession wiirde die Charaktere vieler Species 

 kaum haben ausdriicken konnen, &c." 



Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 4. Vol. x. 11 



