214 PLATE LXXIV. 



lated ; fasciculi polyspiculous, each forming the sides of 

 several areas ; spicula acerate, rather long and stout. 

 Interstitial membranes aspiculous. 



Colour. In spirit, dull ocherous-yellow. 



Habitat. Jersey ; Rev. A. M. Norman. 



Examined. From spirit. 



I have seen no other specimen of this species than 

 the one under consideration. There are no indications 

 of a basal attachment, but strong evidence that the 

 sponge has entirely enveloped a portion of a branching 

 fucus. It is firm and fleshy to the feel, and the 

 dermal membrane is tough and strong. There are 

 two oscula about a line in diameter on the projecting 

 parts of the sponge, and a few others dispersed on its 

 flat portions of about the same size. The pores are 

 not visible to the unassisted eye, but in portions of 

 the dermal membrane mounted in Canada balsam, a 

 few single ones in an open state were seen in the areas 

 of the dermal reticulations. 



The dermal system is very characteristic of the 

 species. The rete consists of numerous, more or less, 

 polyspiculous fasciculi, which are disposed in nearly 

 parallel lines, which are crossed at nearly right angles 

 or diagonally by single spicula, or two or three loosely 

 fasciculated. These secondary fasciculi seldom exceed 

 a single spiculuni in length, while the primary ones are 

 frequently five, six, or more spicula long. The result 

 of this mode of disposition of the dermal spicula is 

 that a rete with square or rhomboidal areas is pro- 

 duced. In some portions of the dermis this mode of 

 arrangement is clearly and beautifully displayed, while 

 in other parts there are so many dispersed spicula 

 superadded, as to very much confuse the view of the 

 dermal reticulation. 



The structure of the skeleton is also very remark- 

 able. Immediately beneath the dermal surface it pre- 

 sents the usual indefinite style of reticulation that 

 prevails to so great an extent in the section of Hali- 

 chondria to which this species belongs, but in the deeper- 



