’ 
370 Mr. H. J. Carter on a new Species of Spongilla. 
tached to the stems of the herbaceous plant around which the 
specimen of Spongilla Cartert had grown (Pl. XVI. fig. 1) ; 
variable in size under 1-51st of an inch in diameter (fig. 2) ; 
composed of a spiculiferous capsule (figs. 2, d, and 3, ¢), a chi- 
tinous coat which is also spiculiferous (figs. 2, c, 3, 5, and 4), 
and the usual germinal contents (figs. 2,a and 3,a), but no 
distinct cellular coat. Spicules of the statoblasts slightly 
curved, thick, cylindrical, more or less obtuse at the ends, 
about 9 by 2-6000ths inch in greatest dimensions (fig. 5, a), 
or comparatively thin, fusiform, and more or less pointed at 
the ends, about 10 by 1-6000th inch in greatest dimen- 
sions (fig. 5, 6); both thickly spined and varying’in stout- 
ness inversely with their proximity to the surface ; arranged 
horizontally, so that the ends do not project beyond the level 
of the statoblast, where they more or less cross each other and 
are held together by granules (? the microcell-structure, 
(fig. 2, d); appearing also in the chitinous coat, where they 
do not cross each other, but form a single layer, in which the 
spicules lie more or less parallel to each other in various direc- 
tions, so as to present a damaskened appearance (fig.4). Skele- 
ton-spicules of one form only, viz. acerate, curved, fusiform, 
gradually sharp-pointed, smooth, or microspined, about 22 by 
1-1800th inch in its greatest dimensions (fig. 6, a,b). Aper- 
ture of the statoblast sunken, single or in plurality (8-4), 
lined by a tubular projection of the chitinous coat (fig. 3, d). 
Hab. Freshwater tank. 
Loc. Island of Bombay. 
Obs. 'The most characteristic part of this species of Spon- 
gilla is, that the chitinous coat is spiculiferous, as above de- 
scribed, and that, when the statoblast is divided through the 
middle or the outer layer crushed, it also comes out divided 
or entire as the case may be (fig. 3,5), when it may be 
mounted in Canada balsam, and then presents the damaskened 
appearance to which I have alluded, which becomes a very 
beautiful microscopic object, owing to the layer of spicules 
lying more or less parallel to each other, although in diffe- 
rent directions, being immersed in the transparent light amber- 
coloured chitinous substance of which the coat is otherwise 
composed (fig.4). The way in which the statoblast is firmly 
fixed to the stem of the plant is also peculiar, inasmuch as 
the thick spiculiferous or external coat is continued onto the 
wood, thus forming a kind of neck or expanded base, which 
is so strongly attached as to bring away a portion of the wood 
when removed ; while the “‘ aperture,” single or in plurality 
as above stated, varies in position on the free surface. They 
are for the most part more or less emptied of their germinal 
