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



external portion of the Ijranclies the strands bend out towards the lateral surface, 

 and end below the skin, as is readily apparent on the macerated skeletons. The 

 transverse beams between these principal strands are for the most part disposed at 

 right angles. The afferent and efferent canals which penetrate the whole body are 

 irregular roundish passages, running in various directions, but in general across the 

 branches. Since the spiral or circular grooves on the branches are covered over with a 

 fine square dermal lattice-work, while on the annular pads the outward bent skeletal 

 strands and the associated efferent canals run at right angles to the lateral surface, it 

 may be inferred that the afferent canals pass to the interior from the large sub- 

 dermal spaces under the skin of the annular grooves, while the efi'erent canals 

 open out on the pads. Isolated spicules in the parenchyma are represented not 

 only by strongly developed uncinates, Ijut by scopula-like spicules with a long, 

 straight rough stalk, from which a few conical or finger-shaped elevations here and 

 there project transversely, and with four markedly diverging, uniformly thick, rough 

 unknobbed prongs rising from the thick extremity. The dermal skeleton contains 

 hypodermal sword-shaped oxyhexacts, with a floricome-like spha^rohexaster on the 

 short radial ray. The principal rays of the latter are moderately short, and bear 

 six long terminals, disposed in perianth fashion, diverging slightly outwards, gradually 

 thickened, and ending in a spherical knob. Besides these hypodermal hexacts there 

 are scopulfe with rough stalks narrowed inferiorly, and bearing at the thick distal 

 end four slightly S-shaped or straight, uniformly thick prongs, which are wholly l^eset 

 with small barbs, and end in slight, knob-like, terminal swellings. Philippines ; Timor, 

 360 fathoms. 



■ Tribe II. INEEMIA, F. E. S. 

 Dictyonina without uncinates or scopul^. 



Single Family M^androspongid^, Zittel. 



The body consists of a connected system of labyrinthine anastomosing tubes of 

 approximately uniform width, between which there is a connected interstitial system of 

 interspaces. The water passes by the latter into the interior, penetrates the walls of the 

 tubes, and passes by the tubes either into the gastral cavity or du'ectly to the 

 exterior. 



Genus 1. Dactylocalyx, Stutchbury. 



The thick wall of the plump and generally cup-shaped body exhibits both on the 

 outer and on the inner surface broad irregular pads, and interjacent clefts or grooves. 

 The external swellings correspond to the internal grooves, so that the whole appears to 



