PLATE LXXXIX. 319 



specimens dredged by Mr. Norman are obscured by 

 Corallina,but, like Mr.jKent's specimen they are all para- 

 sitical on the stem or roots of a fucns. The external 

 papulous character prevails in all of them to about an 

 equal extent. The largest of Mr. Norman's specimens 

 is three and a half inches high ; at the base there is 

 the fucus on which it has grown, about the size of a 

 goose quill. At an inch above the base the sponge 

 divides into finger-like masses, each from six to eight 

 lines in diameter, and at the summit of each the small 

 branches of the fucus are visible, and there are also on 

 each summit several oscula, not exceeding a line or a line 

 andhalf in diameter. Thesecondspecimen is two inches 

 in height, expanding upward from the basal extremity 

 to the apex, where it has a diameter of about eight lines 

 terminating abruptly. The stem of the fucus on which 

 it has grown has been withdrawn from this specimen ; 

 but the large central perforation indicating its former 

 presence is very apparent. The third specimen con- 

 tains the remains of a very slender zoophyte. It is 

 irregularly massive, about one inch and a half in 

 height, and about the same in diameter. Its broad 

 distal end is slightly depressed in the middle and, on 

 its surface there are numerous small simple oscula, 

 none exceeding half a line in diameter ; on other parts 

 of the sponge oscula are also observable, and some of 

 them terminate the papulous projections on the dermal 

 surface. Mr. Norman has also found this species at 

 Portaferry, Strangford Lough, in 1869. 



DESMACIDON SIMILABIS, Boiverbanlc. 

 Plate LXXXIX. 



Sponge sessile, coating the stems of fuci. Surface 

 smooth but uneven, often papulous. Oscula and pores 

 inconspicuous. Dermal membrane abundantly spicu- 

 lous ; tension spicula dispersed or closely felted to- 

 gether, subclavate-acuate, as large as those of the 



