21 4 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The writer \vishes to record her thanks to other workers who kindly 

 helped by collecting specimens in different parts of the country, in particular 

 to the following: — Messrs. D. C. Campliell, X. H. Foster, E. A. Phillips, 

 R. LI. Praeger, R. Welch, and Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Stelfox. Special uieiition 

 should be made of the constant help given by the late Major H. Trevelyan, 

 who on his many fishing expeditions to the counties of Donegal and 

 Fermanagh undertook to search for fresh-water sponges, and who became a 

 most enthusiastic collector. Thanks are also due to the Fauna and Flora 

 Committee of the Koyal Irish Academy for a grant which enabled the writer 

 to collect in the more remote districts of south-west Cork and Kerry. 



Supposed Occurjiesce of Tkociiospoxgilla PKNXsvLVAiJiCA (Potts) anu 



SpOSGILiLA CfUTKRIFOR-MIS (POTTS) IN IRELAND. 



In addition to the discovery of Hderomeyenia Byderi in Ireland, 

 Dr. Hauibsch (20, 21 1 announced the finding of two other species new to 

 this country, namely, TubeJla pcniisi/li^nua from Columbkille Lough, 

 Co. Donegal, and Ephydatia cnitcri/ormis from Park Lough, Hungry Hill, 

 Co. Cork, the latter species being only named provisionally. Gemmules 

 were not found in any of the specimens. No further trace of sponges 

 belonging to these two species, now referred to the genera Trochospongilla 

 and S|)ongilla respectively (3, p. 118 and p. 83), has beeu discovered in 

 Ireland; but when once systematic field work was undertaken Meter omeycnia 

 Byderi was found in great abundance in difrcrent parts of the country, and 

 its variabihly soon became recoguize<i. As I have stated in a previous 

 |>a]>er (41), it was im|K)ssiblc not to \)e struck witli the agreement of 

 Dr. Hanitsch's description of Trochospongilla pninaylvanica and SjwngUla 

 cr(Ufri/ormis with fonns of Hetcromcycnia Ryderi taken in difl'ereut Irish 

 localities. It was determined therefore as opportunity offered to obtain 

 further material for examination from the lakes in which Dr. Hanitsch's 

 specimens had been taken. 



As already described (41), visits made to Columbkille Lough by the late 

 Major Trevelyan and by the present writer on several occasions during the 

 summer and autumn of 1011 resulted in the finding of a sponge which grew 

 there in great abundance underneath the stones along the shores of the lake. 

 Its skeleton-spicules agreed exactly with Hanitsch's description of the sponge 

 he had called TuMla pcnntylranica, and with a preparation of one of his 

 specimens now in the British Museum. Hundreds of specimens were 

 collected without finding any gemmules ; but finally a few gemmule-bearing 

 spongee were taken in the month of October, and these proved that the 

 sponge was HcUronuycnia Ryderi. 



