470 DR. J. S. BOWERBANK ON THE SPONGILLID^. [NoV. 24, 



This species is not S. friahilis, Lamarck, the ovaries of which are 

 furnished with birotulate spicula, while those of the Hke organs in 

 the Sponge under consideration are fusiformi-acerate. I have there- 

 fore named it after the author who first described it, in commemora- 

 tion of the valuable services he has rendered to science in this and 

 other departments of natural history. 



In the absence of specimens of the European species S. friahilis, 

 Lamarck, or S. fiuviatilis of Johnston, and with the vague and 

 meagre description only of that Sponge before his eyes, it is by no 

 means a matter of surprise that Mr. Carter should have believed the 

 Bombay Sponge to be the same species as the European one. The 

 skeleton-spicula of the two species do not differ very materially from 

 each other: those oi S. friahilis. Lam., are longer and more purely 

 acerate in form, having a length of -^ inch, and being ■j'^xTi ^^'^ ^* 

 their greatest diameter ; while those of S. Carteri are yL. inch long, 

 the greatest diameter being y^Vs J"ch, and in consequence of their 

 greater proportionate diameter they are distinctly fusiformi-acerate. 



The spicula of the ovaries are, in comparison with those of the 

 ovaries of other species oi Spongilla, very large and stout ; an average- 

 sized one measured gave the following dimensions : — length y^ inch, 

 greatest diameter 2V2T inch. 



The above-named author, in his paper, states that this Sponge 

 " seldom throws up projections much beyond its surface, does not 

 appear to be inclined to spread much, and is matted and confused in 

 its structure towards its base and round its seed-like bodies." 



Spongilla paupercula, Bowerbank. 



Sponge coating and branching ; surface smooth. Oscula and 

 pores inconspicuous. Dermal membrane aspiculous. Skeleton-spi- 

 cula fusiformi-acerate, stout, and rather short. Interstitial membranes 

 aspiculous. Sarcode aspiculous. Ovaries globular, smooth ; spicula 

 acerate, small, few in number. 



Colour, in the dried state, light brown. 



Hah. In the water-pipes of Boston, United States (Prof. J. W. 

 Bailey, New York ; Br. Asa Gray, Cambridge, near Boston, U.S.). 



Examined in the dried state. 



I am indebted to Dr. Asa Gray for specimens of this species. 

 They consist of a number of fragments of branches, the longest of 

 which rather exceeds an inch in length, and are of about the diameter 

 of a goose-quill. The general character of the Sponge appears to 

 be very similar to that of our European species S. lacustris ; but it 

 is not so strongly constructed : and this may perhaps arise from 

 the peculiarity of its place of growth ; in a more genial locality it 

 would probably be much more robust in its general habit, and the 

 ovaria, it is probable, would be more fully and com-pletely developed 

 and more abundantly supplied with their proper spicula, which are of 

 the same form as those of the skeleton, but not more than about 

 half their size : these appear to be very few in number, and to be 

 irregularly dispersed on their surface. 



In a letter from the late Prof. J. W. Bailey, dated November 30, 



I 



