16 PROF. E. A. MINCHIN ON THE [May 2, 



the original of Bowerbank's fig. 7 on pi. iii. of Brit. Spong. vol. iii., 

 is at the top over the middle of the card ; the other six are in two 

 vertical rows of three each to right and left. As I have stated 

 elsewhere, I have examined six out of these seven specimens, and 

 all of them, except the larger one at the top, are quite typical 

 specimens of Leucosolenia complicata ; the large specimen alone is 

 a true Clathrina. 1 give figures of its spicules (text-fig. 4, 4 «-4/), 

 and it is not necessary for me to describe them in detail, for it is 

 evident from the figures that this specimen agrees with the true 

 contorta in all respects but one, namely, in that the monaxons are 

 wanting. In short, Bowerbank's type-specimen of " Leucosolenia 

 contorta^'' or, to be more accurate, the only one of his type- 

 specimens which does not belong to a species of prior standing, 

 is a specimen of '■'■ Ascetta spinosa" Lendenfeld ! 



I have also examined two other specimens of Bowerbank's *, 

 given by him to Canon A. M. Norman, and now in the latter 

 gentleman's collection. The first of these was sent by Canon 

 Norman to Haeckel, and returned by him after examination. It 

 has the following label in Norman's handwriting : — 



" Leucosolenia contorta Bow. 

 " Guernsey 

 " (A type-specimen from Dr. Bowerbank)." 



Also a label in Haeckel's handwriting : — 



" Ascandra contorta H. 

 " (^Leucosolenia contorta Bwbk.) 

 " Guernsey, Bowerbank." 



If any specimen in the world ought to have been a specimen of 

 contorta, surely this ought, bearing, as it does, a double testimonial 

 to character from the two founders of the species. What, then, 

 was my astonishment, on examining the spicules, to find it a quite 

 typical example of Leucosolenia variabilis Haeckel ! I figure its 

 spicules in text-fig. 5, 7a-7l. The only point to notice about them 

 is a certain admixture of Sycon spicules (1 h, 71), which, as I haA^^e 

 set forth in another place, frequently occurs in preparations of 

 va7'iabilis. 



The second specimen in Canon Norman's collection bears a 

 label in Bowerbank's handwriting as follows : — 



" Leucosolenia contorta, Guernsey." 



According to infoimation furnished me by Canon Norman, this 

 particular specimen was not sent to Haeckel, but it is one of the 

 same lot as the type sent to him, and has an equal claim to be 

 regarded as a type. Examination of the specimen shows a mixture 

 of Leucosolenia complicata and Clathrina coriacea (text-fig. 5, 

 8 a-8 m). 



* Bowerbank in his Monograph mentions twenty-eiglit specimens oi contorta, hvA, 

 I have had access to only nine of them. I do not Icnow what has become of the 

 others. 



