Mr. H. J. Carter on a Variety of Spongilla Meyeni. 249 



stated, " they [the seed-like bodies] are similar to what are 

 denominated the winter-eggs of Polypes"*. 



I have also lately observed that the seed-like bodies in 

 Sp. Carteri (which Spongilla grows rapidly round the stems 

 of herbaceous plants during the six months that the upper 

 parts of the freshwater tanks in Bombay are filled) are de- 

 veloped towards the periphery, that Sj). 'plumosa developes 

 its seed-like bodies throughout all parts of its structure 

 almost equally, while the three other Bombay species deve- 

 lope theirs respectively chiefly towards the base or first-formed 

 parts. 



In Prof. James-Clark's paper entitled " Bpongice, ciliatce 

 as Infusoria flagdlata^'' now being republished in the 'An- 

 nals,' the author — after having most carefully examined 

 Leucosolenia [Grantia) hotryoides, Bowerbank, in connexion 

 with a number of flagellate infusoria, both new and old in 

 description — states his " conviction that the true ciliated 

 SjJongice are not Rhizopoda in any sense whatever, nor even 

 closely related to them, but are genuine Q,ova\)Our)A flagellate 

 Protozoal 



Thus a flagellate infusorium would have to be considered 

 the animal expression of Grantia ; and if it can also be shown 

 that these flagellate infusoria can reproduce their sponges re- 

 spectively, directly or indirectly, by the true process of genera- 

 tion, and that all the sponge-cells which take in food, both 

 ciliated and unciliated, receive it through an oral orifice, and 

 not directly through any part of their bodies, then, so far, the 

 Sponges can be disconnected from the Bhizopoda, and, I expect, 

 generally will have to be regarded in the light in which the 

 sagacious Professor of Natural History in the Agricultural 

 College of Pennsylvania views the Spongi^e ciliatge. 



Still, if this be shown, I cannot yet see to what extent it 

 could disassociate the Spongiadse from the Rhizopoda, which 

 evidently possess a like power of polymorphism. 



But Prof. Clark's paper is far too able to justify a hasty 

 conclusion or cursory criticism in any respect ; and therefore 

 this is not the time or place for me to add more than that it 

 appears to possess extraordinary merit, which will be realized 

 the more it is studied by the practical microscopist, who at the 

 same time feels sensible of the duty he is performing towards 

 the public in directing their attention to that end of the scale 

 of organized beings concerning which we are still so profoundly 

 ignorant. 



P.S. Mr. Parfitt adds that Spongilla fluviatilis is plentiful 



* Johnston, Brit. Sponges, footnote, p. 164 : 1842, 

 Ann.&Mag.N.Hwt, Scr. 4. Vol.\. 19 



