440 DK. J. S. BOWERBANK ON THE SPONGILLIDiE. [NoV. 24, 



" Bush-Kagu," and, as you have remarked, much handsomer than 

 its fierce friend the smaller Kagu, which is the one with the dark 

 stripes on the wings and tail (and generally of darker plumage). 

 This is the " Grass-Kagu." These two kinds of Kagu do not asso- 

 ciate together on good terms ; and during the time I had them they 

 were always fighting one with the other, the " Grass-Kagu " invari- 

 ably getting the worst of the battle. 



" ' I will endeavour to procure a male and female of each species, 

 and send them to you as soon as I can.' 



" This fighting-propensity may in some degree account for the 

 death of the little pugnacious Grass-Kagu soon after its arrival. It 

 was found in a miserable half-starved condition when dissected ; whilst 

 the larger, elegant, and more peaceful ' Bush-Kagu ' was in fine plu- 

 mage, plump, and altogether in a healthy state, which continues to 

 the present day. 



"I have since written to Mr. F. Joubert, requesting him to send 

 me as soon as possible a pair of skins of each species, male and female, 

 properly labelled, and living specimens in pairs, as soon after as they 

 can be procured, when I will transmit them to you immediately, so 

 as to decide this interesting doubt on the subject of the existence of 

 two species of this singular bird." 



Mr. F. Buckland gave an account of his recent experiments in 

 conveying a Porpoise {Phoccena communis) from the seaside to the 

 Society's Gardens. 



The following papers were read: — 



1. A Monograph of the Spongillid^. By J. S. Bowerbank, 

 LL.D., F.R.S., L.S., Z.S.. etc. 



(Plate XXXVIII.) 



Much uncertainty appears to have existed among our early writers 

 on natural history regarding the number of our native species of 

 Spongilla. Ray (Syn. Stirp. 30) notices two species under the de- 

 signation of " Spongia ramosa fiuviatilis " and " Spongia Jluviatilis 

 ramosa fragilis." Charles Stewart, of Edinburgh, in his 'Elements 

 of Natural History ' (vol. ii. p. 420, published in 1802), describes one 

 species in the following terms : — " Spongia lacustris. Creeping on 

 other bodies and taking their figure, brittle, with erect, round, ob- 

 tuse branches. Inhabits England, Sweden, &c. This species is 

 found in lakes and rivers ; it has a strong peculiar smell ; when 

 young, flat ; when old, putting forth branches. In autumn it contains 

 little globules, like seeds, which explode when put into the flame of 

 a candle." 



Fleming, in his 'History of British Animals' (p. 524, published 

 in 1828), describes two species under the generic designation of Ha- 

 lichondria : — " H. fluviatilis. Soft, brittle, and slenderly fibrous 

 when dry ; spicula linear and doubly pointed. H, lacustris. Hard, 



