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Show 514 DR. J. E. GRAY ON SPONGES. [May 9, 2. AXINELLA VERRUCOSA, 0. Schmidt, p. 62, t. 6. f. 3. Spongia verrucosa, Esper, ii. t. 47. B.M. (1) Spicules fusiform, bent in the middle, (2) blunt at the end. 3. AXINELLA CANNABINA, O. Schmidt, p. 63, t. 6. f. 5. B.M. 4. AXINELLA FOVEOLARIA, O. Schmidt, p. 64, t. 6. f. 6. B.M. The genera Clathria, Raspalia, and Axinella of Dr. O. Schmidt appear to depend chiefly on the external form of the sponge. 8. ASTROSPONGIA. Sponge stipitate, solitary or branched; surface smooth, when moist very rough and very porous, the outer surface denser; when dry friable. Oscules concave, circular, scattered, surrounded with six or eight small circular pores forming a star ; spicules small, subulate in the fibres. ASTROSPONGIA POLYPOIDES. B.M. Axinella polypoides, O. Schmidt, Spong. Adriat. p. 62, t. 6. f. 4 (oscules far apart). Hab. Adriatic. 9. ASTROSTOMA. Sponge solitary, branched; fibres horny, flexible. Oscules? circular, scattered and concave, sunk in the surface, with eight or ten rays, which are covered with spicules. Spicules small, subulate, in corneous fibres. Astrostoma, Gray, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 239. ASTROSTOMA BOWERBANKII, (sponge) Bowerb. B. S. p. 278, t. 20. f. 307 a, b, 308. Hab. East Indies. The oscules are often very close, with two or three in a line nearly united. I have been enabled, through Mr. Tyler, to examine the original specimens from which Dr. Bowerbank described this species, which is probably a parasite like the genus Bergia of Michelotti. Fam. 7. OPHISTOSPONGIAD^E. Skeleton horny, reticulated; fibres cylindrical, or more or less flattened and expanded, scattered with external diverging spicules. * Spicula diverging from skeleton. 1. OPHISTOSPONGIA. Sponge massive. Skeleton with reticulated cylindrical horny |