Ordo, POTAMOSPONGIA, Gray. Fam., SPONGILLADÆ, Gray. FLUVIATILIS, Pallas. Johnst. Brit. Spong. t. 17, 18. Bowerb. Brit. Spong. ii. p. 339. This species grows, attached to old wood, at the bottom of the weir at Salmon-pool, sometimes in large masses, and also attached to stems of aquatic plants, and particularly those of the water thyme, Anacharis alsinastrum, in the canal and the river Exe. When recently taken from the water it smells like common whale-oil. MAYENII, var. Parfitti, Carter. In Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. 1, 4to Series, p. 427. Massive, flat, more or less lobed, sessile, spreading; colour, greenish yellowish; texture, friable; structure, reticulate. Seed-like bodies, sphæroidal, accumulated towards the base, largest about of an inch in diameter; spicules of skeleton fusiform, slightly arched; acerate, abruptly pointed; largest inch long; of two kinds, smooth and spinous; one-third of the largest thickly set with short verticle spines throughout, except towards the points. Spicules of the seed-like body birotulate, inch long, more or less sparsely scattered through the wall of the seed-like body, wherein they are arranged vertically, with the outer rotule projecting a little beyond the amorphous (Siliceous?) substance that chiefly keeps the whole together; rotules deeply dentate, stellate, wider in diameter than the spicular shaft which unites them; shaft cylindrical, the same size throughout. Habitat, the river Exe, on the Salmon-pool weir, near Exeter; and also on Trew's weir, below the city. I have this year met with it in abundance and in larger masses than I have before found it; but of all the specimens I have met with I have not seen any branched. It grows very closely attached to beams of wood and to the walls of the weirs. The outer surface grows into wavy nodular masses. This species may be seen to be distinct from fluviatilis, which grows abundantly with it its substance is more dense, stiffer, and harsh to the feel. This is the case in the majority of specimens; but there are varieties in this; one which I gathered on Trew's weir grew taller, or rather thicker, than the generality, and it has a more spongy appearance, and is softer to the feel. Its growth is like that of Dysidea fragilis; that is, the principal fibres grow in parallel lines from the base upwards, and nearly straight, so that they have somewhat the appearance of a mass of minute septate tubes when seen laterally. The larger spicules in some specimens obtained this year in June are more strongly CILIATA, Fab. Sub-Class, PORIFERA CALCAREA, Gray. Fam., GRANTIADÆ, Gray. Johnst. Brit. Spon. t. 20, f. 45; Bowb. Brit. Spon. ii. p. 19. Taken occasionally on our south coast. Torquay (Mrs. Griffiths), Babbicombe Bay, and Exmouth, in tide pools amongst corallines. I have a variety of this obtained at Exmouth on the root of a large Laminaria. It is fusiform, slightly compressed. The outer walls very rough, with bundles of acerate spicules. The triangular spicules are the same as those described by Dr. Bowerbank. The distal end of the sponge is flattened into a disk, and surrounded by a slight, raised wall of the spicular structure without. In the centre of the disk are placed two cloaca, nearly touching each other, but distinct, their margins raised above the disc, which gives them a very distinct and * Since the above was written I had occasion to visit the places where I could have gathered them in abundance, in June and the early part of July of this year; indeed the two species were in greater abundance than I ever before recollect to have seen them. At the end of August I visited the same places again with a friend, to show him how and where they grew, when to my great astonishment there was not a specimen or a fragment of a specimen to be found, they had entirely disappeared; and this was not from one locality only, but two others widely apart; so that the same cause, whatever that might be, acted the same upon all. On one side of the Salmon-pool weir a number of specimens grew of both E. fluviatilis and E. mayenni var., and are subject to be covered with brackish water at every tide, as the Exe is a tidal river as far as this weir; and at the same time, when the tide is out, and no water is passing over the weir, which has been the case this summer for a long time, these specimens were exposed to the full blaze of the sun. On the other side of the weir a great number of specimens grew of both species, and were even finer than those on the tidal side. These grew in partial shade, and in comparatively still water. And in both these places, though subject to different conditions, were acted upon by the same cause, as they all disappeared at the same time. The only cause that I can assign for their early disappearance is the excessive heat of the summer, and as soon as they had attained maturity they as quickly decayed and disappeared. But why should vitality be suspended so early, when they were in full vigour so short a time before? singular appearance. The colour of the sponge is yellowish, whereas the disc is pure white. When the centre wall of sponge is magnified, it shows the basal portion of the acerate spicule to be arranged so that they cross each other nearly at right angles, forming a latticed-like appearance within, and in the interstices of these will be seen some of the tri-radiated spicules. COMPRESSA, Fab. GEN., ARTYNES, Gray. Johnst. Brit. Spon. t. 20, f. 1; Mont. Wer. Soc. t. 12, p. 2. This beautiful little species is very frequent on the roots of corallines, and particularly on the roots of Laminarias, all along our shores. GEN., LEUCOSOLENIA, Bowerb. BOTRYOIDES, Ellis et Solander. Johnst. Brit. Spong. t. 21, f. 1–5; Ellis and Sol. t. 58, f. 1. Attached to seaweeds in Torbay-not uncommon; and in tidepools at Exmouth, &c. I observed a curious saccular process protruding from the mouth of one of the curved fistulæ. The sponge cells in this are greenish, and about the size of those of Spongilla fluviatilis. CONTORTA, (?) Bowerb. Brit. Spong. ii. p. 29. I query if the sponge that I have in view belongs to Dr. Bowerbanks's contorta. At the same time it may be an extreme variety of that species; but rather than make confusion by creating more species, I will call it a variety. The only specimen I have seen is on a frond of fucus; and as the fistulæ are elongated, and form a reticulated structure on the fucus frond, the cloacal ends standing up above the creeping fistula, the whole more or less compressed, glistening, yellowish white; when dry, orifices of cloaca very minute (probably closed in drying). Spicula of three kinds; those lining the inner walls of the fistulæ equi-triradiate, the radii obtuse, the basal line slightly curved, the other straight. There are a few acerate spicule scattered along the fistula; the outer wall is made up entirely of large in-equi-tri-radiate acute spicula; two rays of the triangle are directed towards the apical portion of the branches of the sponge; these overlap each other more or less, and their sharp points project beyond the walls of the fistulæ, so as to form a defensive armour against the incursions of its enemies. Oscula and pores in conspicuous. Diameter of fistule about of an inch, the whole forming a somewhat intricate mass half-an-inch in diameter. Taken at Dawlish on Fucus vesiculosas between tide-marks; apparently rare. Examined in the dried state. FISTULOSA, Johnst. GEN., LEUCONIA, Grant. Brit. Spong. t. 20, f. 7. Bow. Brit. Spon. ii. p. 39. This appears to be a rare species. Found by Mr. J. H. Stewart on the rocks of the Eddystone Lighthouse. GOSSEI, Bowerb. GEN., LEUCOGYPSIA, Bowerbank. Brit. Spong. ii. p. 42. Taken by Mr. Gosse at Torquay. According to Dr. Bowerbank this species might be easily overlooked and mistaken for Leuconia nivea. ON THE GAME OF CHESS. BY JAMES JERWOOD, M.A., F.G.S., F.C.P.S., ETC. SOMETIME ago I had occasion to make the following remarks on the game of chess: Whatever be a man's occupation, generally speaking, he at intervals stands in need of some relaxation. The body requires repose as well as nourishment for the due performance of its functions. The mind, in like manner, must have its refreshing rest, its proper pabulum, and occasionally its exhilarating plaything to sport with and to unbend itself, in order to maintain its vigour and elasticity. An unceasing round of labour, either bodily or intellectual, would exhaust the subtle fluids which maintain both kinds of machinery in condition for action, and render them torpid, inflexible, and incapacitated. "Oliare quo labores" truly says the fabulist, which in homely English means, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." This is an every-day truism, but it is a universal one. Be the employment mental or manual, the "ne quid nemis" maxim applies in either case, "Too much of one thing is good for nothing." This is true even in youth, when all is jocular and buoyant; but when people arrive at the shady time of life, the truth of old Horace's apophthegm, "Dulce est desipere in loco," is exemplified every day. When friends meet for social enjoyment, how much the stock of pleasure is reciprocally increased when each friend can take a part in some harmless amusement. The great aim of education should be to make mankind useful and happy. When, therefore, so much familiar enjoyment may be obtained, at a time too when it is most wanted, and most difficult to be acquired, clearly little accomplishments for amusement should not only be allowed at school, but, with becoming caution, they should be encouraged and inculcated. The same lesson that impresses the advice, "In summer prepare for winter," should also convey a warning of the pernicious and ruinous consequences of idleness and gambling. Innocent amusements should be taught to be regarded with some esteem, vicious gambling to be abhorred and shunned. Admitting that some preparation for the dark days of our pilgrimage should be made in the sunny ones, and that a small stock of accomplishments should be laid up which may and commonly do add much to sociability; what games or amusements, as the elements of such sedentary sources of enjoyment, may youths with the greatest safety be permitted to learn? We think the game named at the head of this article, without a comparison, must be placed first and foreinost. As a mental discipline it is without a rival or competitor. Its very essence is caution. It inures the mind to anticipate stratagems and to prevent them; it tends perhaps, more than any other exercise, to induce a habit of foreseeing, and a promptitude of at once defending and defeating. The chess-player's skill at the table is of the same description as the general's on the field. The former may justly say, "Ludimus effigiem belli," their professional characteristics are nearly alike. Each endeavours to dispose the lines of operation in the most advantageous manner; each, as skilfully as he can, concentrates his forces so as to bring them to bear with the greatest rapidity and effect upon the most important points of the enemy's operations; each endeavours that the place of attack shall also form the best possible line of defence; each should accustom himself to act with decision on pressing emergencies, and on the happening of unforeseen |