BRITISH SPONGIAD.E. 317 



others subsequently examined, they appeared to be rather 

 numerous, and were regularly dispersed over the surface. 



The tension spicula of the dermal membrane were very 

 sparingly dispersed over its surface, but in the interstitial 

 membranes they were in some parts rather abundant ; they 

 were of the same size and form as those of the skeleton, 

 with an intermixture of others of more slender proportions. 



The hispidation of the surface is caused by the pro- 

 jection beyond the dermal membraue of the distal termi- 

 nations of the primary radial lines of the skeleton. 



29. Isodictya infundibuliformis, Bowerbank. 



Halichondria infundiduliformis, Johnston. 



Sponge. Funnel-shaped, rarely fan-shaped ; elevated on a 

 short pedicel; distal margin blunt and rounded. 

 Surface even ; minutely hispid. Oscula simple, dis- 

 persed over all parts of the surface ; small and very 

 numerous. Pores inconspicuous. Dermal and inter- 

 stitial membranes aspiculous. Skeleton. Spicula of 

 the primary lines attenuato-acuate, stout and rather 

 short ; of the secondary lines acerate, stout, and rather 

 short. External defensive spicula, same as those of 

 the primary lines of the skeleton. 



Colour. Dried, ochreous yellow, with a tint of brown. 



Habitat. North-east and south-east Haaf Banks, Shet- 

 land, from 60 to 90 fathoms, Mr. Barlee; Hebrides, Mr. 

 McNab ; St. Martin's, Guernsey, 1861, Mrs. Collings. 



Examined. In the dried state. 



I first received specimens of this sponge from my kind 

 friend, the late Mr. Barlee, who dredged them up at 

 the Haaf Banks, and I subsequently received from the 

 Shetland Deep-sea fishermen, through the agency of Mr. 

 Humphreys, fifty or sixty specimens, of various dimen- 

 sions and shapes. Some of the younger ones were of the 

 size and proportions of the specimen figured by Dr. John- 



