198 DR. J. S. BOWERBANK ON SPONGIAD/E. [Feb. 20, 



with extraneous matter — Polycystina? Foraminifera, grains of sand, 

 and the spicula of other sponges were abundant amidst the proper 

 fusiformi-acerate spicula of the membranes ; and the cylindro-stellate 

 spicula of the sarcode were very abundant. The ovaries are very 

 large and have the form of a depressed sphere, very closely resem- 

 bling an orange in shape, the foramen being situated in the position 

 that the attachment to the stalk would be in the orange. An ave- 

 rage-sized one measured T( Lj inch in diameter, while a full-sized one 

 of G. Barretti measured only -^s inch in diameter. The skeleton- 

 spicula are very large, frequently a quarter of an inch in length. 



I cannot better name this fine species of Geodia than by dedicating 

 it to my friend Mr. M'Andrew, to whose spirited and constant exer- 

 tions to extend our knowledge of marine natural history the scientific 

 world are deeply indebted, and whose kindness and liberality has 

 been extended to every one who has the pleasure of knowing him 

 and who are engaged in pursuits similar to his own. 



Geodia Barretti, Bowerbank. (Plate XI.) 



Sponge massive, sessile ; surface even, both strongly and minutely 

 hirsute, with more or less of large fusiformi-acerate spicula, and 

 universally with small fusiformi-acerate spicula projecting at right 

 angles from one sixth to one eighth of their length ; and profusely, 

 beneath the dermal membrane, with minute cylindro-stellate spicula. 

 Dermal membrane thin, translucent, aspiculous. Connecting spicula 

 at tenuato- furcated patento-ternate, stout ; and attenuato-recurvo- 

 ternate, long and slender. Oscula congregated in deeply depressed 

 areas, veiled, numerous and small. Pores inconspicuous, minute, 

 dispersed. Skeleton-spicula fusiformi-acerate, large. Interstitial 

 membranes — tension-spicula fusiformi-acerate, small, variable in 

 size, abundant ; retentive spicula cylindro-stellate, minute. Ovaria 

 much depressed. 



Hah. South side of Vigten Island, Norway, 100 fathoms {Robert 

 M'Andrew, Esq.). 



Colour. Deep cream-yellow. 

 Examined in the fresh state. 



I am indebted to my kind friend Mr. M'Andrew for three fine 

 specimens of this species. One is of a semilunate form, 8g inches 

 in length, 5 inches in breadth, and 2 inches in depth, and it is evi- 

 dently only a portion of a much larger specimen. The second one 

 is of a somewhat oval form, 54 inches in length, 4 inches in breadth, 

 and 3| inches in height, and is the one figured. The third one is 

 5| inches high, 4| inches broad, and 2 inches thick, and is very 

 unlike in form to the first two specimens. The surface is very much 

 more undulating, and it is only in some of the depressed portions of 

 this specimen that we have any indication of the large spicula which 

 render those parts of the surface so extraordinarily villous. In these 

 spots the spicula, which exceed the eighth of an inch in length, are 

 so abundant that they completely cover and obscure the surface of 

 the sponge, from which they project nearly the whole of their length, 



