HTMEDESMIA. 67 



the species. The large bidentate equi-anchorate ones 

 are larger and stouter in their proportions than is usual 

 with this form of spiculum. A fully developed one 

 measured -Q^Q inch in length, and its shaft was -giroo" 

 inch in diameter. They are rather sparingly dispersed 

 on the surface of the basal membrane, to which they 

 are usually attached by the middle of the curved shaft. 

 Occasionally but rarely a tridentate one occurs, but 

 this form, is the exception and not the rule. They vary 

 to a considerable degree in size, form, and in the 

 completeness of the development of their anchorate 

 terminations. 



ec The minute, bidentate, anchorate spicula are very 

 few in number and extremely minute; one of them 

 measured only -^^j inch in length. They are usually 

 completely immersed in the sarcode and are very indis- 

 tinctly seen. 



" This species is readily separable from Hymedesmia 

 pansa or pulchella, its nearest known allies, by the 

 striking differences in the forms of the bidentate, equi- 

 anchorate spicula ; which in this species greatly exceed 

 in size and stoutness, as well as differ in form from, 

 those of either of the above-named species, and also 

 by the possession of the exceedingly minute equi- 

 anchorate spicula intermixed sparingly with the larger 

 ones. In other respects also it differs in its structures, 

 but in a less striking manner from those of H. pansa 

 and pulchella." 



9. HYMEDESMIA STELLATA, Boio., n, 150 ; in, PU 

 XXVIII, figs. 58. 



1867 Timea stellata, Gray. Proc. Zool. Soc., p. 544. 



