84 Mr. H. J. Carter on the Freshwater Sponges of Bombay. 



slightly curved, smooth, pointed at each end, about ^th of an 

 inch in length ; small spicula also slightly curved, thickly spi- 

 niferous or pointed at each end ; the former, pertaining to the 

 seed-like bodies, are about ? ^th of an inch in length ; the latter, 

 pertaining to the investing membrane, are more slender and a 

 little less in length. (Plate III. fig. 4.) 



Hab. Sides of the freshwater tanks in the island of Bombay, 

 on rocks, stones, gravel, or temporarily on floating objects. Sel- 

 dom covered by water more than six months in the year. 



Observations.— ^-This species is frequently found spreading over 

 the flat surfaces of rocks to a considerable extent (like Sp. cinerea) 

 without throwing up any processes ; on the other hand, it is also 

 found in circumscribed portions throwing up irregularly formed 

 ragged projections, of an inch or more in length. It surrounds 

 floating objects, such as straws, or binds together portions of 

 gravel, showing in this latter state a greater degree of tenacity 

 than any of the other species. In structure it is a coarse form of 

 Sp. cinerea, but differs from it in colour as well as in the size of 

 its seed-like bodies and spicula ; possessing at the same time that 

 peculiarity which distinguishes it from all the other species, of 

 having numerous small spiniferous spicula in its investing mem- 

 brane, which, when dry, gives it that white, lacelike appearance, 

 which has led me to propose for it the specific term of alba. 



4. Sp. Meyeni, n. s. — Massive, surface convex, presenting 

 large lobes, mammillary eminences, or pyramidal, compressed, 

 obtuse or sharp-pointed projections of an inch or more in height, 

 also low wavy ridges. Colour yellow. Growing in circumscribed 

 masses, seldom attaining more than 3 inches in height. Texture 

 fine, friable, soft, tomatose towards the base. Structure fibrous, 

 reticulated, radiated. Seed-like bodies spheroidal, about ¥ yth of 

 an inch in diameter, studded with little toothed disks. Spicula of 

 two kinds, large and small ; large spicula slightly curved, smooth, 

 pointed at each end, about ^rd of an inch in length ; small spi- 

 cula straight, sometimes slightly spiniferous, terminated by a 

 toothed disk at each end, about ¥ |^nd of an inch in length. 

 (Plate III. fig. 1.) 



Hab. Sides of the freshwater tanks in the island of Bombay, 

 on rocks seldom covered by water more than six months in the 

 year. 



Observations. — I have never observed this species either en- 

 veloping floating bodies, or growing anywhere but on rocks, in 

 circumscribed portions. It varies like the other species in being 

 sometimes more, sometimes less firm in texture. No other spe- 

 cies resembles the officinal sponges in external appearance so 

 much as this when fully developed and free from foreign sub- 

 stances. It is distinguished from the foregoing by the regularity 



