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"ENDEAVOUE" SCIENTIFIC EE.SULTS. 



point to point in outline and in area. The thickness of the 

 branches perpendicularly to the plane ot branching varies from 

 3 to 6 mm. ; in the transverse direction they are of variable 



breadth, sometimes appearing to 

 a slight extent irregularly mon- 

 iliform, and almost invariably 

 becoming much expanded prior 

 to bifurcation. The encrusted 

 appearance of portions of the 

 surface of the figured specimen 

 is due to a stoloniferous Alcyon- 

 arian. 



The fibres are of about equal 

 stoutness to those of the pre- 

 ceding variety. Also, the echiru- 

 ating acanthostyles are of ap- 

 proximately equal abundance, 

 and are often deeply imbedded in 

 the spongin. In regard to their 

 spicular characters, however, the 

 two varieties are well distin- 

 guished. In the present variety, 

 the megascleres are much slen- 

 derer ; the auxiliary spicules are 

 much longer, and approach more 

 nearly to the principal styli in 

 point of stoutness ; both aux- 

 iliary and special dermal spicules 

 are tylost} lote or subtylostylote, 

 and appear to be entirely devoid 

 of the characteristic basal spina- 

 tion of other varieties ; and 

 finally, the acanthostyles are 

 clavate or subclavate, and have 

 smaller and more numerous 

 spines. The greatest dimensions 

 of the spicules are as follows : — 



Fig. 38 — /i. t. var. oeniinus. 

 a Principal stylus, b Auxiliary 

 styli. b' Basal extremities of 

 ditto, c Special dermal styli. 

 d Acantbostyli. e Larger chelse. 

 f Smaller contort chela, g Toxa. 



