HALICHONDRIA. ]31 



ova likewise would be quite abnormal, and without any parallel, 

 among ascidian or hydroid polypes, while it agrees, as Dr Grant 

 states, with that observed in the Halichondriae, to which this 

 production seems to be nearest allied. I willingly admit that 

 these observations do not prove any error in Dr Grant's de- 

 scription, but there appears in what I have stated to be sufficient 

 grounds for asking a re -examination of the subject, and direct- 

 ing attention to it in this place.* 



22. H.? AUREA, " broad, Jlat, and slightly divided at the 

 topr 



Spongia aurea, Montagu in Wern. Mem. ii. 86. Flem. Brit. Anim. 



526. 

 Tupha aiu-ea, Gray, Brit. PL i. 356. 



Hah. Plentiful in the estuary of Kingsbridge, covering the 

 stones at low water, Montagu. , 



" Two or three inches broad, and nearly two inches high, of 

 an orange-yellow when fresh, fading to brown when dry. Some- 

 times its slight divisions are tubular, but this is of rare occur- 

 rence. It is not so much divided as Spongia prolifera of Ellis, 

 or might be thought a variety ; but in this, the base is always 

 broad and compact, and the summit is more ragged than branch- 

 ed ; it contains a great deal of animal gluten, which in drying, 

 contracts and connects the small divisions." Montagu. 



23. H. ACULEATA, criistaceous, imperfectly and coarsely 

 cellular, friable when dried; spicula very long and needle- 

 shaped. 



Plate XIII. Fig. 1-3. 



Halichondria aculeata, Bean, MSS. 



Hub. Coast near Scarborough, rare, W. Bean. 



* The Spongia terebrans of M. Duvernoy would appear to be nearly 

 related to our species, but he places it in the genus Calceponge of M. De 

 Blainville. See Microscopic Journal, i. p. 47. 



