74 



TORIFERA. II. 



Esperiopsis-spedes one species is found, E. symmetrica R. and D. (Chall. Report. XX, 77, PI. XXVI, figs. 4, 

 4a), which shows, in its outer form and skeletal structure, very great conformity to several of the 

 Asbestoplu wa-species. A conspicuous peculiarity common to the Asbestopl// ma-species is the fact, that 

 embryos are so often found. Also in the mentioned Esperiopsis-species embrvos were found occurring 

 in the same way as in the Asbestopl// ma-species. The embryos, otherwise, show some difference in 

 the different species with regard to the spicules occurring in them. Embryos were found in the species 

 pennatula, furcata, cupressiforn/is, lycopodium, and iiifundibuhtm. The difference in their speculation 

 may be seen in the following table: 



Size of the • , .. 



embryo Spiculation 



pennatula 0'5 — I mm ;No megasclera, only sigmata and the small chela. Sigmata seem to appear first. 



furcata <-,.-, mm Megasclera small snbtylostyli of an average length of o-2o8mm; microsclera sigmata and the 



small chela, both a little larger than in the grown sponge. 



cupressifor/l/is CO5 — Cr27 m,n Megasclera small subtvlostyli, often irregularly formed, and styli, strongyla, etc., arranged in 



a bundle. The length up to o-i2 mm ; microsclera chelae a little smaller than in the grown 

 sponge. 



Ivcopodiu/U O'OS — Cr23 mm ! Megasclera small, straight or curved, styli arranged in a bundle, the length up to o-i6 mm ; 



microsclera chelae of the same size as in the grown sponge. Megasclera appear first. 



infundibulum up to C)'l8 mm Megasclera quite irregular styli, strongyla or oxea, the length up to crimm. Microsclera 



chelae a little smaller than in the grown sponge. 



Among the earlier described Asbestoplu ma-species embryos are mentioned in two, viz. in biseri- 

 alis R. and D., in which, as in pennatula and furcata, they are found in the axis; the only thing said 

 of them is that they have numerous spicules; further in vcrsatilis Tops., of which it is stated that 

 they have of megasclera oxea and strongyla, and of microsclera cheke 1 ). 



Top sent, who, in 1901 (Resultats du Voy. du S. Y. Belgica, 23), takes up and diagnosticates 

 the genus Asbcstopluma, enumerates at the same time the six species which, in his opinion, belong to it, 

 viz. cuprcssiformis Cart., bihamatifera Cart, pennatula Schmidt, biserialis R. and D., Nordenskioldii Frstdt, 

 and the new-established species Belgica. Of these species Nordenskioldii, as above mentioned, is syno- 

 nymous with pennatula. Some more species have been described, however, which Tops en t has not 

 noticed, but which belong here, viz. besides the already described infundibulum Levins., the species 

 vcrsatilis, established by Topsent himself in 1892 (Resultats des Campagn. scient. du Prince de Monaco, 

 Fasc. II, 100, PI. VI, fig. 5, PI. X, fig. 9), and by him referred to the genus Forcepia, as well as the 

 Esperella occidentalis established in 1893 by Lam be (Transact, of the Roy. Soc. of Canada XI, Sect. IV, 

 28, PI. II, figs. 6, 6 a — e), and the E. mi/iuta established by Lambe in 1900 (ibid. Ser. 2, VI, Sect. IV, 

 23, PI. I, figs. 3, 3 a— c). Thus besides the eight species taken by the Ingolf, the following ones belong 

 to this genus: biserialis R. and D., Belgica Tops., occidentalis Lambe, vcrsatilis Tops, and ///inula Lambe. 



') According to the statement of Topsent, it was to be supposed that the embryos had the microsclera occurring 

 in the species, viz. chelae and forcipes; but to judge from the figure they have only cheke, and this, I suppose, is the cor- 

 rect tiring. 



