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Show 1 9 0 4 .] SPONGES OF THE GENUS LEUCOSOLENIA. 393 oscular tubes. The basal network thus completely resembles variabilis in its spiculation. For these reasons I should certainly place the two forms as varieties of one species were I now describing them for the first time. I refrain at present, however, from taking the step of uniting the two forms, for the reason that they have long been kept distinct, and that they are generally very easily recognised and distinguished from each other. To call them one species, definite proof of relationship should be obtained. If, for instance, larvae of a typical specimen of botryoides were cultivated and found to give rise to variabilis as well as to botryoides, according to the conditions of growth, no one could doubt any longer that the alleged two species were one. The experimental test of their relationship should not be difficult to obtain; but until it has been obtained, the two forms may be provisionally kept distinct under then old names, in spite of the fact that the diagnostic features of botryoides are purely relative as compared with variabilis. (d) List of Specimens examined. (a) From Canon Norman's Collection. 1. Dried specimen received from Johnston and sent by him to Haeckel for examination; figured by Haeckel, Die Kalkschwamme, pi. 9. fig. 10. (Haeckel's figure is, however, very much reconstructed, and does not bear a close resemblance to the original.) With a label in Haeckel's handwriting:- " Ascaltis botryoides Hkl. " Grantia botryoides Johnston. " Leucosolenia botryoides Bwbk. " (vera!). " Berwick Bay, Johnston." Also with label by Norman :- " Leucosolenia botryoides. " Berwick Bay, Feb. 22nd, 1851. " Dr. Johnston." This most precious specimen is therefore one of Haeckel's types, and it shows clearly that, in a manner analogous to the case of L. complicata mentioned above, Haeckel overlooked the small but very abundant monaxons (see text-fig. 97, figg. 23 a- 23 p, p. 388); that therefore the species should have been placed as Ascandra botryoides in his system; and that consequently the species Ascandra botrys H. should be struck out of the system, becoming a synonym of L. botryoides. 2. Dried specimen received from Dr. E. Perceval Wright, by whom it was sent to Haeckel for identification. With label in Wright's handwriting :- " Ascandra botrys, Portrush, E. P. W. " Specimens named by Haeckel." (See text-fig. 98, figg. 24 a- 24 i, p. 390.) |