Porifera. 



B. Ceratina. 

 See Delage, Keller {\^), Topsent {^^). 



C. Porifera ealcaria. 



See Grentzenberg, Hanitsch, Keller (^), Rauff (i), Topsent {^). — Topsent (*) 

 records Amphoriscus flamma and 4 other Calcaria. 



Dendy (^) describes a new genus and species of Calcaria, Synute pulchella, with 

 tbe following diagnosis: — »Sponge forming a colony of Sycon individuals com- 

 pletely fused together into a Single mass invested in a common cortex. Tubar 

 skeleton articulate or inarticulate, cortical skeleton formed chiefly of huge oxeote 

 spicules arranged in several layers and lying parallel to the long axes of tbe Sy- 

 con individuals«. It is, in fact, a colony of Ute individuals fused togetber, tbe 

 individuality of wbicb is only recognisable by tbe oscula. 



Lendenfeld (^) describes 32 species of Calcaria from tbe Adriatic Sea. Of all 

 tbese species anatomical details are given, among wbicb are new ones. Tbe 

 autbor' s well-known views of Classification and nomenclature are partly main- 

 tained, partly again modified. 



Dendy (^) describes an interesting calcareous sponge, Grantia lahyrinthica (Crtr.). 

 Tbe sponge consists of a tbin-walled cup , attacbed to a cylindrical stalk. In 

 young specimens tbis cup is simple, opening witb a wide moutb, wbicb, in fact, may 

 be called osculum. In adult specimens tbe walls are folded, Tbere is a distinct 

 cortex, consisting of specialised cortical and dermal spicules. Tbe inner wall of 

 tbe cup is strengtbened by cloacalia. Tbe »pores« lie in groups and form j)pore- 

 sieves«, wbicb sieves are membranaceous, »corresponding to tbe dermal membrane 

 of otber sponges«. Tbe pores lead into an inbalant cavity. Tbe beginning of tbis 

 corresponds tben to a subdermal cavity of otber sponges. In each flagellated cbam- 

 ber tbere are numerous prosopyles ; in tbeir neigbbourbood tbe connective tissue 

 is scanty. Tbe flagellated cbambers exbibit a marked inclination towards bran- 

 cbing. Tbe first developed cbambers seem to perisb and at tbose places connec- 

 tive tissue develops, forming at tbe end tbe stalk of tbe sponge. According to 

 tbe autbor it is possible tbat also at otber places flagellated cbambers perisb and 

 may be replaced by new ones. How tbese new cbambers originate, the autbor 

 does not know; but be states tbat tbe new cbambers near tbe osculum »make 

 tbeir first appearance in about tbe middle of tbe tbickness of tbe sponge-wall, 

 and apparently do not originate as outgrowtbs of tbe gastral cavity«. It must 

 be remarked bere tbat in G. lahyrinthica tbe full-grown cbambers never open 

 directly into tbe cloaca ; tbere is a special canal communicating witb botb. Tbe 

 apopyle can be narrowed by a spbincter. Beneatb tbe external epithelium gland- 

 cells occur ; tbey are very distinct and plentiful on tbe gastral surface, but less so 

 on tbe dermal. Tbese gland-cells' strikingly resemble tbose of siliceous sponges. 

 — Tbe ova bang from tbe epithelium of inbalant canals by means of sbort pe- 

 duncles. The autbor believes tbat tbey are bere awaiting fertilisation, and after 

 that migrate to near tbe wall of a flagellated Chamber, in order tbere to undergo 

 further developement. 



Dendy [^) gives, as Bidder observes, »the first attempt at an accurate descrip- 

 tion of tbe bistology of tbe lower Calcarea since Metscbnikoff's paper in 1879«. 

 Tbe result is tbat tbere is more anatomical difference witbin the Calcaria Homo- 

 coela than is generally accepted. Tbe simplest type of Organisation can con- 

 veniently be called » Olynthus « , a tbin-walled tube or sac , opening witb a large 

 opening, »osculum«. »Inbalant pores and prosopyles are so close together tbat 



tbey may for all practical purposes be regarded as identical It is probable 



that all Calcareous sponges pass through an Olynthus stage at an early period of 



