514 DR. J. E. GRAY ON SPONGES. [May 9, 



2. AxiNELLA VERRUCOSA, O. Schmidt, p. 62, t. 6. f. 3. 

 Spo77(/ia verrucosa, Esper, ii. t. 47. B.M, 

 (1) Spicules fusiform, bent in the middle, (2) blunt at the end. 



3. AxiNELLA CANNABiNA, O. Schmidt, p. 6.3, t. 6. f. ii. B.M. 



4. AxiNELLA FovEOLARiA, O. Sclimidt, p. 64, t. 6. f. 6. B.M. 



The genera Clathria, Raspalia, and Axinella of Dr. O. Schmidt 

 appear to depend chiefly on the external form of the sponge. 



8. ASTROSPONGIA. 



Sponge stipitate, solitary or branched ; surface smooth, when 

 moist very rough and very porous, the outer surface denser ; when 

 dry friable. Oscules concave, circular, scattered, surrounded with 

 six or eight small circular pores forming a star ; spicules small, subu- 

 late in the fibres. 



AsTROSPONGIA POLYPOIDES, B.M. 



Axinella polypoides, O. Schmidt, Spong. Adriat. p. 62, t. 6. f . 4 

 (oscules far apart). 

 Hab. Adriatic. 



9. ASTROSTOMA. 



Spouge solitary, branched ; fibres horny, flexible. Oscules? cir- 

 cular, scattered and concave, sunk in the surface, with eight or ten 

 rays, which are covered with spicules. Spicules small, subulate, in 

 corneous fibres. 



Astrostoma, Gray, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 239. 



AsTROSTOMA BOWERBANKii, (spouge) Bowerb. B. S. p. 278, 

 t. 20. f. 307 a, b, 308. 



Hab. East Indies. 



The oscules are often very close, with two or three in a line nearly 

 united. 



I have been enabled, through Mr. Tyler, to examine the original 

 specimens from vfhich Dr. Bowerbank described this species, which 

 is probably a parasite like the genus Bergia of Michelotti. 



Fam. 7. OPHISTOSPONGIADyE. 



Skeleton horny, reticulated ; fibres cylindrical, or more or less 

 flattened and expanded, scattered with external diverging spicules. 



* Spicula diverging from sheleton. 

 1. Ophistospongia. 

 Sponge massive. Skeleton with reticulated cylindrical horny 



