_Spicules._ Skeleton-spicules long, smooth, sharply pointed; the length on an average at least 20 times the greatest breadth, often more. Flesh-spicules slender, gradually pointed, nearly straight, covered with minute straight or nearly straight spines. Gemmule-spicules very similar, but usually a little stouter and often blunt at the ends; their spines rather longer than those on the flesh-spicules, usually more numerous near the ends than in the middle of the spicule, slightly retroverted, those at the extreme tips often so arranged as to suggest a rudimentary rotule. [Illustration: Fig. 9.--Gemmule of _Spongilla proliferens_ as seen in optical section (from Calcutta), × 140.] _Gemmules_ usually numerous, lying free near the base of the sponge, very variable in size, spherical, surrounded by a thick granular layer in which the spicules, which are always very numerous, are arranged tangentially, their position being more near the vertical than the horizontal; a few horizontal spicules usually present on the external surface of the gemmule, which frequently has a ragged appearance owing to some of the tangential spicules protruding further than others. Foraminal tubule stout, cylindrical, usually somewhat contorted; its orifice irregular in outline. Sometimes more than one foramen present. _S. proliferens_ can be distinguished from all forms of _S. lacustris_ and _S. alba_ by the fact that its gemmules possess a foraminal tubule; from _S. cinerea_ it can be distinguished by its colour and its smooth skeleton-spicules, and from _S. travancorica_ by its free gemmules. I have been enabled by the kindness of Prof. Max Weber to examine specimens from Celebes and Java identified by him as _S. cinerea_, Carter, and have no doubt that they belong to my species. TYPE in the Indian Museum; a co-type in the British Museum. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.--All over Eastern India and Burma; also in Cochin on the west coast; Ceylon; W. China; Java, Flores and Celebes. _Localities_:--BENGAL, Calcutta and neighbourhood (_Annandale_); Berhampore, Murshidabad district (_R. E. Lloyd_): ASSAM, Mangal-dai near the Bhutan frontier (_S. W. Kemp_): MADRAS PRESIDENCY, Madras (town) and neighbourhood (_J. R. Henderson_); Rambha, Ganjam district (_Annandale_); Bangalore, Mysore (alt. _ca._ 3000 ft.) (_Annandale_); Ernakulam and Trichur, Cochin (_G. Mathai_): BURMA, Rangoon (_Annandale_, _J. Coggin Brown_); Prome, Upper Burma (_J. Coggin Brown_); Kawkareik, Amherst district, Tenasserim (_Annandale_): CEYLON, between Maradankawela and Galapita-Gala, North Central Province (_Willey_). Mr. J. Coggin Brown has recently brought back specimens from Yunnan.