﻿2!;b 



"ENDEAVOUR" SCIENTIFIC EESULTS. 



r\ 



The single specimen, preserved in a dry state, is a small" 

 sponge of indefinite shape growing dispersedly over the fronds. 

 of a foliaceoLis calcareous Bryozoan. It consists in part of a 



thin spreading layer closely in- 

 vesting the surface of the fronds,, 

 and in part of irregular com- 

 pressed outgrowths arising 

 along their margins. The- 

 lamellar portions of the sponge 

 (which constitute by far the 

 greater portion of its bulk) have 

 an uneven, irregularly undulat- 

 ing surface, and, owing to vary- 

 ing rates of growth at different 

 points, an irregularly lobed and 

 broken margin ; they vary from 

 I to 3 mm. in thickness, are- 

 indefinite in width, and attain, in 

 the present instance, a maxi- 

 mum height of 50 mm. Owing 

 to incomplete coalescence be- 

 tween the marginal lobes as 

 growth proceeds, the lamellae 

 are frequently fenestrate. There- 

 are no certain indications of 

 oscula. The surface is minutelv 

 porous. The colour is yellowish- 

 grey ; the consistency firm, com- 

 pressible, slightly brittle ; the 

 texture, finely fibrous. 



The main skeleton is a web- 

 like sub-renieroid irregular re- 

 ticulation of pale slender horny 

 fibres with pauciserially or uni- 

 serially arranged axial spicules 

 (principal styli). The precise 

 formation of the skeleton is diflii- 

 cult of determination ; apparently 

 there is a primary reticulation 

 of stouter fibres, the meshes 

 of which are occupied by a 

 secondary interreticulum of 

 mostly unispicular connecting 

 fibres. The outlines of the 

 stouter fibres are vague, and the arrangement of their spicules 

 is disorderly ; they seldom exceed 40 ix in diameter. The 

 (usually single) spicules forming the sides of the angular 

 meshes of the interreticulum are probabl}' always surrounded 



Fig. 53 — O. conf'raoosa. a 

 Principal styles. b Auxiliary 

 stvle. c Chela, d Toxa. 



