1869. | DR. J. S. BOWERBANK ON THEONELLA. 389 
worm is a foreign importation is what I have already, in my previous 
paper, suggested. The chief habitats for worms of this peculiar 
genus are Ceylon and India. We have specimens also of a species 
from Australia. In a second letter from Mr. Fish, dated April 9th, 
he further says, as to its foreign origin, “I think it probable the 
worms come from the Cape of Good Hope, or some part of Africa. 
The proprietor of Glevering Hall, where I first met them, was a 
great fancier of bulbs and imported a good many; and it was in a 
large Crinum-amabile pot that I first found the worm. My theory 
is that they came from Glevering here (Hardwick House), as it is 
quite possible that plants may have been exchanged between the two 
places.” ‘‘They seem to have no fear of moles, as when disturbed 
they rush inwards, and not outwards as our common worm always 
does.” Mr. Fish, in repeating that he has known this worm for 
twenty years, says that he has observed it for the last fourteen years 
at Hardwick House. 
I have very little doubt that this curious worm will be found in 
various gardens throughout Great Britain. 
5. On Dr. Gray’s Genus Theonella. 
By J. S. Bowrrsann, LL.D., F.R.S., F.Z.S., &e. 
On October the 23rd, 1868, I visited the British Museum for the 
purpose of reexamining some of the Siliceo-fibrous Sponges before 
sending my paper on that subject to this Society ; and I then saw, 
for the first time, the specimen from Formosa sent by Mr. Swinhoe. 
I pointed it out to Dr. Baird, and expressed my wish to examine 
it. He forthwith conveyed it to the entomological department, 
where I closely inspected its structures and satisfied myself that it 
was a specimen of my previously named Dactylocalyx Pratlii; and 
as such I have alluded to it in the first part of my paper on the 
Siliceo-fibrous Sponges, which was read at the meeting of this Society, 
January 28, 1869. I was not then aware that Dr. Gray had read a 
paper on the Formosan Sponge on November 12, 1868, immediately 
after my inspection of it at the British Museum. I received my 
copy of the ‘Proceedings’ of the Society on the 28th of April last, 
and I then saw Dr. Gray’s description of the Formosan specimen 
under the designation of ‘‘ Note on Theonella, a new genus of Coral- 
loid Sponges from Formosa,” P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 565, and a very 
excellent woodeut of the sponge, p. 566. 
Having previously become well acquainted with the specimen, I 
was somewhat surprised to see it designated as a new genus. The 
author’s generic characters are ample enough it is true, as he em- 
braces not only external form and the skeleton-structure, but every 
other character with which he became acquainted ; but unfortunately 
he describes the anatomical structure so incorrectly as to inevitably 
lead the student into doubt and difficulty in the very first stage-of 
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1869, No. XXVI. 
