334 A MONOGRAPH OF THE 



each other, and they give to the surface on which they 

 disposed a singular and very characteristic stellar appear 

 ance. The porous areas are large and distinct, and I found 

 occasionally a large pore open in each ; but it is most pro- 

 bable that, in the living state, they would contain more than 

 one in each area. 



The general structural character of the skeleton is much 

 more robust than is usual in this genus, and the spicula 

 are correspondingly increased in size. In the dried state 

 the colour is rather inclined to purple, or a dark amber 

 colour. 



I subsequently received portions of a second specimen 

 from the same locality, from the Deep Sea Shetland fisher- 

 men, through the agency of Mr. Humphreys; and this 

 specimen had evidently been very similar in size and form 

 to the one presented to me by Mr. Barlee. 



I have appended the name of my late kind and liberal 

 friend to this singular and very interesting species, as a 

 slight acknowledgment of the many disinterested acts of 

 kindness that I have received from him during the progress 

 of this work, and as a token of respect for his indefatigable 

 exertions in the pursuit of knowledge of Marine Natural 

 History. 



41. Isodictya Beanii, Boiverbank. 



Sponge. Encrusting, surface uneven. Oscula inconspic- 

 uous, dispersed; numerous. Pores inconspicuous. 

 Dermal membrane thin, pellucid, furnished with 

 slender attenuato-acuate and tricurvate spicula, and 

 very rarely, with minute anchorate retentive spicula. 

 Skeleton rarely more than bi or trispiculous ; spicula 

 sub-fusiformi-acuate, not spinous ; secondary lines 

 somewhat confused, mostly unispiculous ; spicula 

 acuate, entirely spined, short and stout. Interstitial 

 membranes. Tension spicula attenuato-acuate, slender; 

 occasionally sub-spinulate ; and tricurvate spicula ; and 

 very rarely, minute retentive anchorate spicula. 



