Mr. H. J. Carter on new Sponges. a ws 
although of considerable size, being 9 inches high, including 
the stem, and 5 inches broad, has a spicule not more than 
half the size, although of the same shape as that of Reniera 
crateriformis ; besides, it has a smooth homogeneous cuticle, 
underneath which is a fibrous layer like the bark of a tree, to 
which I shall more particularly allude presently ; and this it 
was probably which induced Schmidt to place the note of 
interrogation after ““Reniera”’ above quoted. 
Proposed new group :— 
PHL@ODICTYINA *, 
Under the above name and with the following characters, 
provisionally given, I propose to group the few sponges to be 
hereafter mentioned, whose peculiar structure seems to me to 
make it desirable that they should be thus separated from all 
others of the kind. 
Characters. Form variable, chiefly globular, accompanied 
by tubular expansions both above and below, or above only, 
which are closed at the extremities, simple, or branched; or 
globular in form, growing round the root of an aquatic plant ?, 
without tubular extensions; or vasiform, with pustular emi- 
nences only inside. Structure essentially laminated and con- 
centric ; laminge of two distinct kinds, which may alternate 
with each other in variable plurality, commencing dermally 
with an apparently homogeneous, fine, isodictyal layer, densely 
spiculous ; followed by a coarse open spiculo-fibrous reticu- 
lated one, whose lamination is parallel to the surface, and 
contrasts strongly in structure (and bass-relief internally where 
not tollowed by another layer) with the isodictyal homogene- 
ous one outside; also strongly with the tissue of sponges 
generally, whose reticulated structure is continuous with the 
deepest portion, and not laminar, like the bark of a tree, as in 
this instance. Internally hollow or more or less filled with 
a pulpy isodictyal tissue like the outer lamina, 7. e. composed 
of sarcode densely charged with the spicule of the species. 
No evident oscula. Pores in the dermal layer. Spicule of 
one kind only, viz. acerate, sometimes accompanied by a 
bihamate flesh-spicule (fibula). 
The first? mention of such a sponge as this was made by 
Dr. Bowerbank in 1866 under the name of Lsodictya robusta 
(Mon. Brit. Spong. vol. ii. p. 304), from a specimen obtained 
by the Rev. A. M. Norman in 1861, who found it in abun- 
dance about 30 miles east of the Outer Skerries, Shetland. 
The specimen was “ cup-shaped,” had “ apparently’ been 
* ddouds, bark, bass; Sixrvov, net. 
