302 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



hard base of attachment, it then contracts to a kind of stem, and then gradually expands 

 upwards to a width at the top of 40 mm. A deep cavity passes from the upper open 

 end down to the stem-like constriction. The outer surface of the sponge is raised into 

 spiral ridges somewhat as in Euplectella, and under the ridges are irregularly spiral lines 

 of large holes. The interior of the cup presents a very remarkable character, which 

 reminds one at once of many of the chalk Ventriculites. The inner layer is deeply fluted, 

 thrown into a series of alternating vertical grooves and ridges, so that the outline of the 

 cavity in a transverse section is deeply sinuous. The substance of the sponge through- 

 out is composed of a close anastomosing network of siliceous fibres ; towards the outside 

 the network much resembles that of AphrocaUistes ; while on the inner wall the structure 

 is trellis-like, and the form of the meshes square and more regular. The spaces of the 

 network are crowded with small regular Hexactiuellid spicules, some free, some cemented 

 to the continuous skeleton by an attachment of silica. For this beautiful sponge, which 

 I have every reason to believe is undescribed, I propose the name Lefroyella decora. I 

 have associated with this species the name of our kind friend, His Excellency Major- 

 General Lefroy, C.B., F.E.S., Governor of Bermudas." 



Oscar Schmidt says ' : — " Under the name Lefroyella decora, W. Thomson describes a 

 sponge dredged in the vicinity of the Bermudas in 1075 fathoms, which is very probably 

 identical with our Syringidiimi. Since, however, even the best preserved specimen 

 figured is greatly macerated and eroded, so that the more minute details cannot be 

 recognised, I have deemed myself justified in regarding the sponge, from which I was 

 able to give a description in accordance with reality, as new." 



In Leuckart's Jahresbcricht (edited with the co-operation of Marshall)^ it is sug- 

 gested, in reference to Lefroyella decora, Wyville Thomson, that this form is perhaps 

 identical with Peripliragella elisse. 



Lefroyella decora, Wyville Thomson (PI. LXXXIL). 



In the neighbourhood of the Bermudas Islands, the Challenger Expedition dredged 

 several specimens of this beautiful form, but these were unfortunately completely 

 macerated and much rubbed. One specimen, with a narrow cup-shaped basal portion 

 (6 cm. in length, 4 in breadth above and 2 below), was dredged at Station 33 (lat. 

 32° 21' 30" N., long, 64° 35' 55" W.), from a depth of 435 fathoms and a coral mud 

 ground. The other form, which Wyville Thomson himself described (see above), was 

 found hanging to the tangles of the dredge at Station 56 (lat. 32° 8' 45" N., long. 

 46° 59' 35" W), and brought up from a depth of 1075 fathoms and a coral mud ground. 

 This last specimen is represented on PL LXXII. fig. 1, in its natural size and from a 



Spongien des Meerbiisens von Mexico, p. 47. 

 2 Ueber die Fortschritte der wissenschaftl. Leistungen in der Naturgeschichte der Spongien, wahrend der Jahre 

 1876-1879, Archivf. Naturgesch., 1883. 



