254 Geological Society. 



containing the entire carnassial, the hinder half of the third pre- 

 molar, and traces of the inner extremity of a molar, was referred by 

 the Author in 1885 to //. striata, and provisionally regarded as of 

 Pleistocene age, but subsequentlj 7 concluded to have been of Upper 

 Pliocene age. The Author has also referred a right upper carnassial 

 of a Hyaena from the Red Crag to the same species, on the supposi- 

 tion that Prof. Gaudry's reference of II. arvernensis to H. striata 

 was correct. In the present case, Dr. Weithofer has concluded that 

 II. arvernensis is entitled to rank as a valid species, and has accepted 

 the Author's determination of the Red-Crag form, thereby implying 

 that the identification of the latter with H. arvernensis was erro- 

 neous. Dr. Weithofer also states that all the specimens from the 

 Pliocene of the Val dArno which have come under his notice are 

 more nearly allied to the Crocutine group. 



In the present paper, measurements of the recent, Red Crag, 

 and Val-dArno specimens referred by the Author to II. striata 

 were given, and the differences shown to be within the limits of 

 individual variation, whilst the actual contour of the teeth corre- 

 sponded, leading the Author to maintain the correctness of his 

 original determination. 



After comparison of the British-Museum specimen with the upper 

 jaws of Hyamas from the Val dArno, figured by Dr. Weithofer, it 

 was shown that the former specimen was distinct from H. robusta 

 (which latter is allied to H. felina of the Siwalik Hills), whilst a 

 nearer resemblance, though with well-marked specific difference, was 

 made out with If. topariensis, which was in turn observed to be 

 closely allied to, if not identical with, H. Perrieri. 



It was observed that h. arvernensis could be with difficulty dis- 

 tinguished from H. brunnea, and that both of these were nearer to 

 H. striata than to H.croeuta, whilst//. Perrieri appeared to connect 

 them with the latter. 



2. " On a new Genus of Siliceous Sponges from the Lower Cal- 

 careous Grit of Yorkshire." By Dr. G. J. Hinde, F.G.S. 



The Author referred, in the first instance, to the discussion as to 

 the nature of certain renuline bodies occurring in the Corallian of 

 Yorkshire and elsewhere. Although regarded of late years as the 

 globate spicules of a siliceous sponge, the apparent absence of 

 acerate and forked spicules in association therewith has always pre- 

 sented a difficulty. Recently the Author has recognized in specimens 

 from Scarborough certain siliceous sponges which seem to be formed 

 entirely of globates. In outward appearance the sponge is upright, 

 and palmate or fan-shaped, the largest being 140 millim. in height. 

 The wall is 14 millim. thick, and consists of plates which anasto- 

 mose so as to form a labyrinthine structure, and are perforated 

 regularly by oval slits. The laminated Avails are composed entirely 

 of small reniform spicules (globates), well seen where secondary 

 crystallization has not fused them together. The globates, like 

 those of G.eodia, are built up of fibres radiating from the centre. 



