DIOTYOCYLINDEUS. 4n 



8. DlOTYOOYLINDRUS VIRGULTOSUS, Bow., II, 113; III, 



PI. XIX, figs. 1418. 



1870 Raspailia virgultosa, Scliniidt. Spong. Atlant. Geb., 



p. 76. 

 1876 Dictyocylindrus virgultosus, Carter. Ann. Nat. Hist., 



ser. 4, vol. xviii, p. 234, pi. xii, fig. 5, and pi. xv, 



fig. 27. 



5 J 



In the specimens procured in the " Porcupine 

 Expedition to the East of Shetland in 64 and 75 

 fathoms, Mr. Carter has described and figured the 

 large skeleton spicules as " large, acuate, smooth, 

 sharp-pointed, curved suddenly or bent towards the large 

 extremity." In this last point these spicules differ 

 from those described in this work from my type- 

 specimens, but in all other respects the " Porcupine" 

 examples agree closely with those previously obtained. 

 Similar variations, from straight-headed acuates to 

 those which have the thick end much bent, occasionally 

 occur in other species ; for example, the club-headed 

 ppicula of Grantia compressa, which usually have the 

 head much bent on one side, are occasionally found 

 straight. 



9. DIOTYOCYLINDEUS PUMILUS, Boiv., n, 114; in, PI. 

 XIX, fig. 19 ; PL XXI, figs. 14. 



1870 Axinella puinila, Schmidt. Spong. Atlant. Geb., p. 70. 



Habitat. An example in fine condition was found 

 growing on the arched under surface of a large stone 

 at extreme low water, Westport Bay, Co. Mayo (N.). 



