268 Mr. II. J. Carter on some West-Indian 



an acquaintance with Loth Dr. Bowerbank's and Dr. Oscar 

 Sch m idt'.s works ! 



Now, as it is essential for recognition that the microscopy 

 and spicuhition of each sponge shoukl accompany it, if not in 

 iUustration, at least in description, so it is evident that in the 

 absence of this alone, to say nothing of the shortcomings of 

 the publication generally, the ' Spongiaires de la Mer Caraibe ' 

 must for ever remain a kind of '^ Eldorado," in which there 

 "are a number of good things, but no one can get at them. 



Having thus introduced the sul)ject, I will now proceed to 

 a description of the sponges, which will be arranged in ac- 

 cordance with my classification, beginning with 



Order I. CAIINOSA. 



Family 2. Gummiuida. 



Chondrilla nucuJa^ Sdt. 



This flcsh-lIkc sponge seems to grow most abundantly all 

 over the West-Indian seas and upon every thing submarine 

 with which it comes into contact. In many ])laces, as at 

 Puerto Cabello, the specimens have partly-enclosed fragments 

 of sedge {Sparti7ia), much as leaves of grass still green are 

 seen to pass through the pileus of an agaric, thus indicating 

 great rapidity of growth in either instance. Perhaps the 

 most remarkable features in Cl/ondn'/Ia niicula are its con- 

 tracting to a very small size when dried, and swelling out to 

 a comparatively large one when soaked in water — a ])roperty 

 in the ofheinal sponge with which we are familiar; but this 

 is fibrous, whereas ChondriUa oiucula when dry is nearly as 

 hard as wood, and when wet presents "the fbughness, consist- 

 ence, and elasticity of india-rubber, with the softness of 

 gelatine ; while, like the otficinal sponge again, it may be dried 

 and soaked repeatedly without apparently undergoing any 

 deterioration in structure. 



Order 11. CERATINA. 



Family 1. Liiffarida. 



Luffaria cauUformisj n. sp. 



Cauliform, cylindrical, round, solid, long; simple or 

 branched irregularly; erect, straggling, or repent ,• rising from 

 a contracted base of attachment, terminating in a diminished 

 round point, swelling out slightly between ; uniting with each 



