EDITORIAL NOTE. 



The Report on the Hexactinellida, by Professor F. E. Scliulzc of the 



University of Berlin, occupies the whole of the present Volume, the Text and 



Plates being bound up in separate parts. This Report forms Part LIII. of 



the Zoological Series of Reports on the Scientific Results of the Expedition ; 



it extends to over 500 pages and is illustrated by lO-i Lithographic Plates 

 and many woodcuts. 



Sir C. Wyville Thomson gave special attention to this group of Sponges 

 during the Expedition, and it was his intention to describe them in detail 

 in these Official Reports. Owing, however, to ill health and other circum- 

 stances he was never able seriously to commence the work, and at the time 

 of his death there remained only a few Plates which had been prepared 

 under his directions. 



It must be regarded as a singularly fortunate circumstance that I was, in 

 1882, able to induce so eminent a Spongiologist as Professor Schulze to 

 undertake the examination and description of this most characteristic deep- 

 sea group of animals, to which he had already given special attention. 

 The result of Professor Schulze's labours is presented in this magnificent 

 Monograph, which will be welcomed by naturalists in all parts of the world 

 as a substantial and brilliant addition to our scientific knowledge. 



Some portions of the German manuscript were translated by Mr. John 

 Rattray, M.A., B.Sc, F.R.S.E., but by far the larger part was translated by 

 Mr. Arthur Thomson, M.A., F.R.S.E., and the whole was revised by him. 



The Manuscript was received by me in instalments between the 10th 

 August 1886 and the 30th May 1887. 



John Murray. 



Challenger Office, 32 Queen Street, 

 Edinburgh, 1st Aurjust 1S87. 



