On the "Glass-Rope" Hyalonema. 



93 



the latter had become separated from the sponge. Admitting 



this, the zoophyte must have 



grown over the lower end of the 



coil as it might have grown 



over any other foreign body, and 



this appears to me to be totally 



inconsistent with the idea that the 



coil was originally secreted as an 



axis by the same animal. 



In the other specimen (Fig. 2), both 

 ends of the coil have been frayed out, 

 probably by long drifting in shallow 

 water. The Palythoa occupies the central 

 portion, and in extending in both direc- 

 tions it has coated several of the indi- 

 vidual spicules. Some of these are uni- 

 formly incrusted by the arenaceous layer, 

 the polyps standing out at intervals. 

 This can be explained by no mode of 

 branching of which we have any experi- 

 ence. In Gorgonia, or Antipathes, as in 

 most other branching organisms, a young 

 branch is a repetition of the early de- 

 velopment of the stem from which it 

 springs. A branch of Hyalonema, were 

 this an animal or a colony capable of 

 branching, would undoubtedly contain as 

 its axis a fascicle of growing needles. 



A week or two ago, Dr. Gray received 

 at the British Museum two specimens of 

 the Japan Hyalonema, which appear to 

 me to be highly instructive. 



I was in the Museum when they 

 arrived, and Dr. Gray, with characteristic 

 generosity, placed them at my disposal 

 for examination, before he had even had 

 time to look at them carefully himself. 

 In one of these the basal sponges was 

 uninjured. JSTo trace whatever of 

 the Palythoa was to be seen on the 

 coil. 



It is well known that the Japa- 

 nese often strip off the crust to im- 

 prove the appearance of their 

 specimens. There are few things 

 more fragile or more offensive 

 Fig. 1. than a loosely meshed silicious Fig. 2. 



