examination of the specimens * * enables me to refer them to the Protozoa 

 class, Spongidse, or sponges"; and he concludes by saying : " Its generic relations 

 will, I think, be with Hyalonema and Enplectella, both sponges of the Pacific." 



The foregoing is all that I find relating to the " switches," prior to my re- 

 marks as above ; I was not aware, at the time, that anything had appeared on 

 the subject, other than the remarks of Dr. Blake, and that of Mr. Sclater's 

 article, to which Dr. Blake referred. Mr. Sclater's article I had not read, but 

 had casually glanced at the drawing of the so-called fish. 



But having expended so much time prior to an examination of the files of 

 " Nature," I considered it a matter of sufficient interest to warrant a review of 

 the subject, and present the same to the Academy. 



As to what these animal " switches" belong, it will be seen that Dr. Blake, 

 whose examination of their substance microscopically appears to have been 

 quite thorough, places them with the sponges. Mr. Sclater does not commit 

 himself, but conditionally refers them to the fishes. Dr. Gray described (it) 

 them as a new species of Osteoce/la. whatever that may be, (perhaps a Pennatu- 

 lid) while Professors Kolliker, Flower, Milne-Edwards, Mr. Mosely, Principal 

 Dawson, Prof. Yerrill, Mr. Whiteaves, Mr. Dall and myself, regard them as 

 belonging to a species of Alcyonoid polyp, related or pertaining to the group 

 Pennatulidce. 



On reviewing the above, it will be noticed that the various parties who pre- 

 sented the specimens, both of the Burrard's Inlet forms and that fromWest 

 Australia, state that they are bones of, or belong to fishes, implying that they 

 are a part of free-swimming animals ; while some species of the Pennatulacea 

 '•live a floating life in the ocean," it is not unlikely that others may not be con- 

 stantly stationary, or, if I may use the word, are not planted, all of the time ; 

 and while floating might be mistaken for fishes, more especially if numerous 

 specimens were seen moving in the water, coincident with the presence of a 

 school of fishes. 



In conclusion, I would state my belief that the much-discussed switches are a 

 species of Umbellulatia, for which Dr. Gray's specific name might be adopted, 

 and attached to the specimens from Burrard's Inlet, in the Academy's collection. 



