SPONGI^ 



Order LITHISTIDA. 

 Suborder EUTAXICLADmA. 



Family Hindiid^, Kauff. 



Hindia, Duncan. 



HiNDiA FIBROSA, Roemer, (sp.) 1860. 



Calamopora fibrosa (not C. fibrosa, Goldf uss), Roemer, 1860. Fauna des Westl. 



Tenn., p. 20. 

 Astylospongia inomata, Hall, 1863. Sixteenth Rept. New York State Cab. 



Nat. Hist., p. 70. 

 Sphcerolites Nicholsoni, Hinde, 1875. Abstract, Proc. Geol. Soc, p. Ixxxviii. 



InQ. J. G. S., vol. 31. 

 Hindia sphceroidalis, Duncan, 1879. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5), vol. 4, p. 84. 

 Hindia fibrosa, Miller, 1889. N. Amer. Geol. and Pal., p. 160. 

 Hindia sphceroidalis, Ulrich, 1890. Geol. Surv. Illinois, vol. VIII, p. 226 etseq. 



The first name which this sponge received is Calamopora, 



Jlbrosa, Roemer. Although the term arose from an incorrect 



identification of one of Goldfuss's species, this is no reason for 



rejecting the specific name in favor of one of later date, 



especially as these two species belong to widely different genera. 



The structure and position of Hindia have .for years been the 

 subject of considerable contention, but it may at least be affirmed 

 that Hindia is a siliceous sponge, and belongs to the order of 

 Lithistida. Yet this conclusion does not stand without a 

 challenge. Duncan asserts the calcareous nature of the sponge, 

 and only recently Steinm:anx* has denied that it is a sponge at 

 all but considers it a Favosite coral. 



As to the nature and mode of union of the spicular elements, 

 the later investigations of Hinde " confirm the careful descriptions 

 of Hindia given in Rauff's paper in nearly every respect,"f but 

 his conclusions as to its systematic position are not the same. 

 "While Hinde considers the genus more nearly related to the 



♦Steixmaxn, 1886. Neues Jahrb. Min. 1, 1 Heft, p. 91. 

 + HINDE, 1887. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5), p. 75, 



