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ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS MADE DURING [Jan. 4, 



three specimens, were already in the Museum collection, and are evi- 

 dently pieces of those mentioned by Dr. Cunningham at p. 481 of his 

 ' Notes on the Natural History of the Strait of Magellan.' The 

 following are their chief characters, arranged for comparison with 

 those of the type specimen. It cannot, unfortunately, be deter- 

 mined which pieces formed part of the same original specimens : — 



All possess an abundance of the characteristic dark pigment, but 

 concentrated at the centres of well-defined cells, whereas in the 

 spirit specimen from Magellan's Straits it is generally, though not 

 always, scattered over the cells. 



It is very probable that the wrinkled or ridged character pre- 

 sented by the dermis of most of the dried specimens is due to the 

 fact of their having been dried. In all cases except that of the 

 extraordinarily broad specimen No. 6, the external characters of 

 shape, surface-reticulation, and colour agree very closely in all the 

 dried specimens, and must be almost, if not quite, identical with 

 those which would be presented by the spirit specimen if it were 

 dried. 



Obs. This Sponge belongs to the section of Esperia which is 

 devoid of bihamate flesh-spicules. It is to be wished that a distinct 

 genus were formed for the reception of the numerous forms which 

 belong to it. Possibly Rhaphidotheca, Kent, may ultimately be 

 found to satisfy the requirements of the case (c/. Mr. Carter's re- 

 marks in the Journ. lloy. Micr. Soc. ii. p. 498) ; but until the 

 questions which are suggested by the description of the type species 



