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Mr. W. S. Kent on the Affinities of the Sponges. 253 
representatives of the group; and the * enormo " sepa- 
rating the one from the other, which Mr. Lankester conjures 
up, dwindles into insignificance when cont ate the 
tions of Mr. J ames-Clark, or, on the other hand, of suc 
Radiolaria as Mr. Archer’s newly described genera ZtapAidio- 
phrys and Heterophrys. 
The “ enormous gap,” again, is well nigh spanned by repre- 
sentatives of the Foraminifera. Squamulina scopula (Carter)* 
was first considered to be, and described as, a Sponge by Dr. 
Bowerbank. It devolved upon Mr. Carter to discover its true 
nature; and in recording it, he remarks upon the “nice di- 
stinctions that exist between the Foraminifera and the Sponges, 
especially in the minuter forms." The pathway to the other 
Protozoa is clear enough. ; 
Professor Hiickel’s brilliant theory is deserving of the 
greatest praise; but theories without facts to support them are 
but of little value; and when, instead of this, we find that 
facts militate against them, their acceptance must necessarily 
ism to the Spongiade, after having observed 
^ i sesses this arrangement of its 
spinulate " spicula as one of its most characteristic features. 
