Stephens — The Fresh-water Sponges of Ireland. 225 



GiroJ (18) has noticed that in the mountain lakes of Auvergne tlie 

 genimules borne by Spongilla lacustris are devoid of a granular layer, and 

 possess sometimes a few gemraule-spicules. In the rivers the gemniule- 

 spicules increase in numbers until they form a compact covering of closely 

 placed spicules {S. lacustris, var. /ordcmensis, Vejd.), and all intermediary stages 

 have been seen in passing from the still waters of the mountain lakes to the 

 currents of the Eiver AUier and its tributaries. In Ireland the gemmules are 

 witliout the granular coat, or have it very poorly developed in specimens in 

 the low-l}'ing lakes and rivers, as well as in those in the mountain tarns and 

 streams. In one case only, namely, in a specimen from a stream in County 

 Antrim, were gemmules seen with a well-developed granular coat in which 

 the spicules were more or less vertically placed, exactly as figured by Vejdovsky 

 (49, PI. II, fig Ioa). These gemmules were brown in colour, owing to the 

 presence of a distinct chitinous coat outside the granular layer, as described 

 by the same author (49, p. 17) ; and only a few of them were present, the 

 majority of the gemmules being of the usual yellow colour, and with the 

 granular layer poorly developed. 



Localities. 



Kerey. — L. Coomasaharn, Caragh L. and Caragh E., Middle Lake and 

 Meeting of the Waters, Killarney ; L. Avoonane and out-flowing stream, 

 L. Cruttia (coll. E. Welch), stream from L. Nalacken (1,000 ft.) and lake at 

 2,200 ft. and its outlet on Mt. Brandon; L. Doon (1,000 ft.), L. Duff and 

 out-flowing sti'cam, L. Gall, L! Clogharee and out-flowing stream, Ij. Adoon, 

 L. Eagher (1,550 ft.\ Cloonee Lakes and Cloonee E., L. Inchiquin and 

 out-flowing stream, L. Cumraeenadillure and out-flowing stream. 



Cork. — L. Avaul Little near Glengarriff, L. Boy (1,800 ft.) and 

 out-flowing stream. 



Waterford. — Ballyscanlan L., near Tramore. 



Galavay. — Near Eoundstone (12 1, and many small lakes in the neiglibour- 

 hood of Craigga More ; L. Corrib, at many points along its shore ; L. Bofin 

 and out-flowing stream, Arderry L., L. Shindilla, Glendalough L., Xacoo- 

 garrow L. and out-flowing stream, Loughaureirin, Athry L., Derryclare L. 

 and out-flowing stream, Owengowla E., Ballynahinch L. and Ballynahinch E., 

 L. Maumwee, L. Eea (coll. E. A. Phillips). 



Clare. — L. Atoriek (coll. by \l. A. Phillips). 



Kilkenny.— E. Nore at Inishtioge; E. Barrow at Graiguenamanagh. 



Carlow. — E. Barrow near Tinnahinch. 



King's Co. —Near Portarlington (39). 



Kildare. — Canal between Sallins and Naas. 



