called upon Dr. Harvey to Tend his paper on " Sponges."

Dr. Harvey stated that sponges had lately been raised into a separate sub-
kingdom—Polystomata—from their former place as the highest order of the
Protozoa. He then proceeded to describe the three varieties of sponge, the
horny, the calcareous and the siliceous, these terms describing merely
their skeletons, for the living sponge comprises numberless colonies of
minute amaeboid animals that have a common integument, although they are
separate individuals as far as their own internal economy is concerned.
They are ciliated, and by that means keep currents of water continually in
motion, which bring them particles of food and oxygen. The water is
constantly entering by the minute apertures that are to be seen in all
sponges, and passing out by the large openings. The calcareous sponges
build up their skeletons of large numbers of minute calcareous spicules,
while the silicious use flint for the purpose of giving them strength, and
these are often of very beautiful shapes. The only sponges utilized are
the " horny " whose skeleton is composed of a substance known as keratode,
that is very similar in composition to the hair and claws of the higher
animals. The doctor then proceeded to give an account of what is known of
the methods of reproduction in this sub-kingdom. The paper was admirably
illustrated by numerous diagrams, and by specimens obtained by the members
who had attended the excursion to the North Beach on the Saturday
previous, which allowed the enormous variety of sponges to be obtained on
the the [sic] west coast. The Rev. C. G. Nicolay exhibited a sponge nearly
two feet in diameter from Sharks' Bay, and the Secretary specimens of
those silicious sponges known as Venus' Flower Basket, Eupletcella
aspergillum.

Doubtless the sponge industry will in the future assume considerable
importance on the West and North West coasts, while now there is a large
field for the Naturalist in collecting, describing, and naming them.
The next excursion of this Society will be to the Helena Valley on the
first Saturday in April, and on the Monday following a paper will be given
on the “Spectroscope” by the honorary secretary, Mr. Bernard H. Woodward.