120 OKHAMANDAL MARINE ZOOLOGY REPORT PART II 



translucent dermal membrane, supported by a reticulation of spicular fibre and 

 overlying extensive subdermal cavities. There are a number of small, incon- 

 spicuous vents, chiefly in single series along the sides of stem and branches. 

 Colour in spirit very pale yellow ; texture stiff, resilient. Total height of specimen 

 46 mm. ; diameter of stem and branches about 4-5 mm. 



The sponge consists, as usual in the genus, of a central axis, surrounded by 

 wide subdermal cavities which are traversed by spicular columns supporting the 

 dermal membrane. The axis is very thick and the radiating spicule columns very 

 short. Numerous loose fascicles of large oxea run lengthwise through the axis, 

 separated from one another by a fair amount of soft tissue and crossed here and 

 there by scattered oxea. The radiating columns which support the dermal 

 membrane are loose fascicles of similar spicules, ending in surface brushes of 

 short styli. The dermal skeleton is a very irregular reticulation of loose spicular 

 fibre composed of the large oxea. In the dermal membrane also occur numerous 

 small styli, mostly arranged in the above-mentioned brushes at the ends of the 

 radial columns. 



The spicules are very sharply differentiated into two kinds : (1) Large oxea ; 

 slightly curved, fusiform, symmetrical, gradually and sharply pointed at each end, 

 size about 0-8 by 0-02 mm. (smaller ones also occur). (2) Small styli ; short, 

 usually slightly bent ; well rounded off, but somewhat narrowed, at one end, and 

 gradually sharp-pointed at the other, size about 0-2 by 0-008 mm. 



The spiculation of this sponge seems to be identical with that of my Hymeni- 

 acidon (?) foetida [1889], originally from the Gulf of Manaar, which has been 

 included by Lindgren [1898], Thiele [1900] and Hentschel [1912] in the genus 

 Ciocalypta, probably quite rightly. The external form of Ciocalypta dichotoma, 

 however, is so definite, and so different from that of C. foetida, that I think they 

 may, for the present, be regarded as distinct, though closely related species. It 

 should be borne in mind, on the other hand, that Hentschel [1912] describes 

 specimens of C. foetida with finger-shaped processes. 



Register Number, Locality, &c. IV. 21, dredged off S.W. Coast of Beyt Island. 



32. Higginsia sp. 



I have no hesitation in referring to this genus a subcylindrical fragment 

 measuring about 30 by 8 mm. Unfortunately, the specimen was preserved in 

 formalin, and is in a very badly macerated condition, practically nothing but the 

 skeleton remaining, while it contains a large number of evidently foreign spicules. 



The main skeleton is a very irregular, subfibrous reticulation of large, stout 

 oxea, measuring about 0-9 by 0-03 mm., only very slightly curved and gradually 

 and sharply pointed. These are accompanied by a number of very much longer 

 and very much more slender oxea and styli, which seem to belong to the sponge. 



