BRITISH SPONGIAD^. 375 



covered. On mounting the same piece of the sponge in 

 Canada balsam, numerous spicula were apparent, dispersed 

 on the membrane, singly or in loose fasciculi ; they were of 

 the same form, slender acerate, as those imbedded in the 

 horny fibre ; the sarcode was rather abundant, and of a dark 

 amber colour. 



Dr. Johnston, in his ' History of British Sponges,' has 

 expressed an opinion that this species and Spongia lohata 

 of Montagu are the same ; but this is not the case. The 

 type specimen of 8. lohata, Montagu, in the possession of 

 Professor Grant, is an Isodictya, and has acuate spicula, 

 while Chalina limhata has acerate spicula. Had Dr. John- 

 ston had the advantage of seeing the type specimen of 

 S. lohata, he would not, I am certain, have entertained such 

 an opinion. 



7. Chalina Geantii, Bowerhank. 



Sponge. Sessile, branching and inosculating, fan-shaped ; 

 branches somewhat compressed. Surface even, 

 minutely hispid. Oscula simple, dispersed. Pores 

 inconspicuous. Dermal membrane aspiculous. Skele- 

 ton. Branches non-fistulous ; primary lines bi or 

 trispiculous ; secondary lines unispiculous ; spicula 

 acerate, stout, rather short. Interstitial membranes 

 aspiculous. 



Colour. — Dried, light gray. 

 5«^«Va^.— Brighton, Mr. Thos. Ingall. 

 Examined. — In the dried state. 



I received a single specimen of this species, vdth other 

 British sponges, obtained by my late friend Mr. Thos. 

 Ingall, at Brighton. The specimen, from its condition, has 

 every appearance of having been partially water-worn and 

 cast up on the beach. The dermal membrane on some 

 parts of it was in a tolerably perfect state of preservation ; 

 it is situated at about the depth of the length of one 



