i7 



XIV. Spirastrella massa. 



1886 Ridley & Dendy p. 490 — 491. 



1887 Ridley & Dendy pp. XXX, XLV, 230, 245, 256; PI. XLV, fig. 14 — \<\k. 

 1889 (/3) Lendenfeld p. 467. 



The type of Spirastrella massa is registered in the British Museum '87. 5. 2. 33 ; it 

 bears my number B. M. 31. 



There is a great resemblance, externally, between this sponge and the two specimens 

 of Suberites wilsoni B. M. 32 and B. M. 33, if we abstract from the difference in color. The 

 texture likewise shows resemblance ; only there is much more sand and débris in the latter, 

 in so far as the areniferous composition in the latter is seen almost throughout the sponge, 

 whereas in the former it is conspicuous only at the lovver parts. Ridley & Dendy said (1887 



p. 230 — 231) that "perhaps the two most remarkable characteristics are its singularly 



massive external form and the shape of the megasclera". I think in both characters Spirastrella 

 massa agrees pretty well with Subcritcs wilsoni. The near relation is decidedly still more striking 

 if we realize that some specimens of Sitbcrites wilsoni (B.M. 15) are not carmine-red, but have 

 the same buff color as Spirastrella massa. Ridley & Dendy state further that -S'. massa approaches 

 S. cunctatrix in spiculation, although in the latter the "microsclera are of decidedly more robust 

 growth". Of course it is; although there are important differences, I should say the spinispirae 

 come nearer those of Subcritcs wilsoni than those of Spirastrella cunctatrix. I am inclined, 

 therefore, to consider the difference between massa and wilsoni not to be of specific value. 

 Indeed the former connects the latter with 426 a-c 



XV. Spirastrella papillosa. — Vioa papillosa. 



1886 Ridley & Dendy p. 491. 



1887 Ridley & Dendy pp. XLVI1I, 232, 233, 245, 257, 259; PI. XLI, fig. 5; PI. XLV, fig. 1 1— 1 ig. 

 1897 Dendy p. 252 — 253. 



1897 Lendenfeld p. 163. 



1898 Thiele p. 43. 



The specimen in the British Museum to which I have given number B. M. 37 represents 

 the type of Ridley & Dendy ; it is registered '87. 5. 2. 31. Lendenfeld applied the name Vioa 

 papillosa, for which there is no ground. According to Dendy (1897 p. 252) some specimens 

 ol Spirastrella cunctatrix, and more especially the variety porcata are specifically identical 

 with Spirastrella papillosa. Moreover he believes (1. c. p. 253) that other specimens of S. 

 cunctatrix are probably a variety of S. papillosa, for which he coins the name porosa. These 

 statements sufficiently prove the close relation between 5. cunctatrix and \. papillosa. Specimens 

 426 d and g2 a-1 of the Siboga collection are identical with .S'. papillosa, and in other respects 

 with cunctatrix. The more reason to consider papillosa and cunctatrix as identical. 



XVI. Spirastrella solida. — Vioa solida. 



1886 Ridley & Dendy p. 491. 



1887 Ridley & Dendy pp. XLVII, XLVIII, LXI, 231, 232, 247, 256. PI. XLI, fig. 7; PI. XLV, 



fig- U—IS'*- 



SIBOGA-EXPEDITIE Vla 1 . 3 



