BENDY NON-CALCAREOUS SPONGES 131 



be regarded as of specific value and may be associated with temperature conditions. 

 A great many foreign spicules are present in the sponge, possibly owing to its association 

 with other sponges in the dredge. 



Previously known Distribution. Mediterranean, Azores, Amboina (Topsent). 



Register Number, Locality, &c. XXIX. 3, N. of Poshetra, 3f-4 fms., 20.12.05. 



45. Bubaris radiata n. sp. (Plate I., Figs. 8a-8b ; Plate IV., Figs. 24a, 246). 



Sponge (Figs. 24a, 24&) encrusting, cushion-shaped, composed of close-set, stout, 

 radiating skeletal columns, united by a small quantity of gelatinous soft tissue. 

 Surface conulose owing to the projecting ends of the spicular columns, with a thin, 

 translucent dermal membrane in the grooves between the conuli. No oscula 

 or pores seen. The largest piece (R.N. II. 10) measures about 18 mm. in maximum 

 diameter and 6 mm. in thickness, the thickness being equal to the length of the 

 spicular columns, which extend from the base to the upper surface almost without 

 branching and approximately parallel to one another. The individual columns are 

 about 1 mm. in diameter. The coloiir in spirit is light, dull yellow. 



A second specimen (R.N. III. 7 a), rather smaller, looks like a fragment of an almost 

 spherical sponge. The spicular columns are rather stouter, a little more branched, 

 and radiate almost from a common centre. The colour in spirit is rather darker. 



The skeleton consists of very strong columns of spicules arranged in a plumose 

 fashion. Each column contains a very dense axis composed of an interlacement of 

 short strongyla, in which are implanted the bases of some of the stout styli which radiate 

 obliquely outwards and upwards from the axis. There is sometimes a tendency to 

 the formation of secondary plumose spicular columns coming off from the axis of the 

 primary. At the ends of the columns the apices of the styli project freely beyond 

 the surface of the sponge, but lower down between the columns they are completely 

 enveloped in gelatinous tissue. 



Spicules. (1) Stout styli (Fig. 8a), more or less bent towards the base, 

 tapering gradually to a sharply pointed apex ; commonly measuring about 0-55 by 

 0-026 mm., often smaller and occasionally a trifle larger. (2) A few very much longer 

 and more slender styli (Fig. 8a'") occur in boiled-out preparations, measuring up to 

 about 1-3 by 0-016 mm. (3) Strongyla (Fig. 8b) ; comparatively short and irregularly 

 curved or bent to a varying but not very high degree, approximately equal-ended ; 

 size commonly about 0-26 by 0-01 mm., but variable. Intermediate forms are repre- 

 sented by Figs. 8a' and 80". 



In general appearance and skeleton arrangement this sponge reminds one very 

 strongly of the common Ceylon species Aulospongus tubulatus. The latter, however, 

 has not got any strongyla in the axes of the plumose spicular columns, while, on the 

 other hand, it has got minutely spined, echinating styli, which are absent in the present 

 species. 



