PORIFKRA. II. 



some short branches, and irregularities caused by anastomoses and coalescing of branches may occur, but 

 both these features seem to be found only rarely. The branches are generally arranged in a distinctly 

 bilateral way, but here and there a branch ma} - be placed in a different plan. The bilaterality is 

 effaced in only one specimen, in which the branches are very close-set, but this specimen is upon the 

 whole somewhat irregular. As in the preceding species, stems and branches carry branchlets. These 

 branchlets are in this species more close-set than in the preceding one, and besides they are here 

 arranged more or less distinctly in a ring-like way. This arrangement is not always marked, but is 

 in all cases recognizable; sometimes the circles pass into each other, and then there is a beginning 

 spiral arrangement. The number of the branchlets in the circle is generally some half-score. The 

 branchlets pass off at right angles, or are, especially in the outer part of the branch, directed towards 

 the point of the branch. Their length may be somewhat varying, from rather long, outwardly thread- 

 fine ones, and to quite short, comparatively thick projections. The branchlets of the same circle are 

 more or less coalesced at the base, and when the}- are quite short the branches get a peculiar jointed 

 appearance, and may to some degree remind of the arm of an Ophiurid. In a few places of the stem 

 or the branches the branchlets may be quite wanting, and these parts are then slightly shaggy. The 

 branches end at the point in a globular or ovate swelling, below which the branches are a little con- 

 stricted, by which means the swelling becomes more sharply marked off. The last branchlets before 

 the swelling decrease a little in length. One of the tolerably whole specimens, which is, however, not 

 quite undamaged above, has a height of ca. ijo" 1 " 1 , and most of the other specimens seem to have 

 been of a somewhat similar height. The specimen which seems to have been the largest one is only 

 a little higher, but it is broken off below, and a rather large piece is no doubt wanting. The length 

 of the branches may, as mentioned, be somewhat varying, the greatest length measured was 80 — 90""". 

 The stem and the branches may be of somewhat varying thickness, but they are generally compara- 

 tively thin in proportion to their length, and so the species gets a more slender appearance than the 

 preceding one; the thickness, which is about equal in stem and branches, or only a little greater in 

 the stem, may be given to 2 — 5 mm . The branchlets vary from quite short projections to 8 ,nra long, 

 threadfine appendages. The consistency is as in the preceding species. The colour (in spirit) is 

 whitish to whitish vellow. The surface is upon the whole smooth; at the points of the branchlets the 

 fibres project, and the terminal swelling of the branches as well as the parts of the branches that show 

 no branchlets are slightly shaggv. Outermost a very thin dermal membrane is found, only distinct in 

 the parts between the branchlets; it is supported by spicules underneath, but cannot be separated 

 alone. Pores are found in the dermal membrane, especially in the parts between the branchlets; they 

 are often very close-set. They were measured from quite fine openings to a diameter of ca. o-o6 mm . 

 Pores are also found in the swollen terminal part of the branches 1 )- Oscula have not been observed. 

 In transverse sections of the sponge canals are seen in the layer of tissue between the fibres of the 

 branchlets; these canals run chiefly as longitudinal ones, and being the widest canals seen it is an 



■) If pores have not hitherto been mentioned in the Cfadorkisa-species, I suppose that it is only owing to the fact 

 that they are only to be seen with difficulty. The fact is that the outermost layer consists of close-lying membrane-like parts 

 separated by narrow cavities; the outermost membrane forms the dermal membrane. The pores in this membrane, accord- 

 ingly, lead into a cavity inside, and the cavities are connected with each other by pores in the membranes. Now the der- 

 mal membrane proper cannot be separated except by special preparation, and if we cut off a piece of skiu-layer ever so thin, 

 we shall nevertheless get more than the outermost membrane, and so the pores are not seen by transmitted light. 



