ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 811 



new sponge from Port Jackson, Baphyrus Eixonii. The largest 

 species is 300 mm. across, massive, rounded, with large " pseud- 

 oscula " situated on rounded protuberances at the sides and upper 

 parts. It is bright red in colour ; spirits extract a deep orange- 

 coloured pigment. 



The canal system consists of a reticulate structure, as in Halme, 

 formed of lamellous fibres. Most of the lacunas belong to the inhalent 

 system ; the exhalent canals not forming extensive lacunas. Several 

 sorts of spicules are found. In the soft tissue certain granular 

 wandering cells of various shapes are found, and the author assumes 

 that they are connected with the digestive functions of the sponge. 

 " They take up and absorb microscopic food-particles which may get 

 into the lacunaa of the inhalent system, and there come in contact 

 with the epithelium." 



Sponge with remarkable colouring power.* — Dr. v. Lendenfeld 

 describes Halme tingens, from which spirit extracts a yellowish pig- 

 ment, and if paper or other substances be dipped into this solution 

 they become dark violet ; the colour, aj>parently, is precipitated from 

 its solution in alcohol. The colour cannot be washed out by ether 

 or water, nor by concentrated acid or strong alkalies, the former merely 

 turning the blue to red. The chemical nature of the sponge is un- 

 known. A very small piece of sponge is sufficient to colour an 

 immense quantity of paper, &c. The author thinks some practical 

 use may be made of this discovery. 



Mimicry in Sponges, f — Dr. v. Lendenfeld describes four new 

 sponges, of which Chalinopsis imitans imitates Dactylochalina cylin- 

 drica so closely, that he had placed them together as the same 

 sponge till the Microscope showed him his error. Chalinopsis 

 dichotoma in the same way imitates Dactylochalina reticulata. The 

 genus Chalinopsis belongs to the family Spongidaa, whilst Dactylo- 

 chalina belongs to the Monactinellse. The reason of the likeness 

 between many species of these two genera may be accounted for in 

 different ways. The author adopts the view that the siliceous sponges 

 are the ancestors of the horny ones. The Chalinopsinse are related 

 to the Chalinidas. " It seems probable that the two above-named 

 species of Chalinopsis are descendants of digitate Chalinidse ; they 

 have lost the defensive spicules, of so great a value to Dactolycha- 

 lina, but have retained the external appearance. It is probable that 

 the species of Dactylochalina have undergone changes since then, 

 and that these species of Chalinopsis have had to change their own shape 

 accordingly, so as always to remain similar to a defensive sponge." 



Alga forming a Pseudomorph of a Siliceous Sponge.J — In 

 examining several specimens of a new species of sponge, Dactylocha- 

 lina australis, Dr. E. v. Lendenfeld found that three of them differed 

 from the others in their greater rigidity, though resembling them in 

 shape. The structure of the sponge is described, and also that of the 

 three apparent variations, which the author finds to be algaa. 



* Proc. Liuu. Soe. N. S. Wales, x. (1886) pp. 568-9. 



t Ibid., pp. 569-72 (4 figs.). % Ibid., pp. 726-8 (1 fig.). 



