PORIFERA. I. 



25 



As mentioned above, no particular dermal skeleton is found, but the dermal membrane is sup- 

 ported by the ends of the fibres. Otherwise the skeleton consists of an irregular network of loose 

 fibres; most frequenth- the fibres have a thickness of 3 — 5 spicules; sometimes they contain still more 

 spicules. The s\stem of canals is ver>' .-strongly developed, and therefore the soft tissues are scarce in 

 proportion to the skeleton, and of spread spicules outside the fibres as good as none are found. Here 

 and there the ends of the spicules are seen to be cemented b\' a very scarce and completely clear 

 mass of spongin, which is, however, onl\- observed with difficult}- on account of its clearness and the 

 small amount of it. 



Spiciila are comparative!)- thick, somewhat cxirved oxea; they are almost of equal thickness 

 in their whole length, are abruptly pointed, and the point is bounded by rather straight lines, so that 

 they approach tornotes in form. The bending ma\ be more or less pronounced, but the\- are rarely straight; 

 most frequently the bending makes an even curve, sometimes, however, it is rather sharp. The size 

 of the spicules is very constant; the length is between 0-41 — 0-447"""; they may be a little shorter, and 

 ma> also reach a length of up to 0-52""', in one specimen especially they often reach a length of o-s™"'. 

 The thickness most frequenth is 0-023""", but ma>- also be a little less. Spicules being to a consider- 

 able degree shorter and finer than those mentioned, are very scarce. 



As I have had before me one of the specimens of Armauer Hansen, I have been able to 

 determine the species with certainty; the specimens of Armauer Hansen are somewhat larger than 

 those described abo\-e; they have a height of 5'"', and a diameter of ca. a'S^", as may also be seen from 

 the habit-figure cited (PI. \T, fig. 2), but otherwise they are of the same form; the specimen I have 

 seen, was likewise broken off at the base. 



Locality: Of this species we have three specimens from East-Greenland, obtained b\ the East- 

 Greenland expedition 1891—92 in the following places: 72° 24' Lat. N., 19 42' Long. W., depth ca. 130 

 fathoms, two specimens; the south-end of Jameson's Laud, depth 10 — 60 fathoms, one specimen, and 

 further one specimen, taken on 63° 15' Lat. N., 9- 35' Long. W., depth 270 fathoms (Wandel). 



Geogi: disti: East-Greenland and west of the Faroe Islands; with regard to the specimens of 

 the Norwegian North-Atlantic expedition the station is unknown. 



On station 85, 63-21' Lat. N., 25' 21' Long. W., depth 170 fathoms, station 89, 64^45' Lat. N., 

 27° 20' Long. W., depth 310 fathoms, and station 97, 65' 28' Lat. N., 27° 39' Long. W., depth 450 fathoms, 

 the Ingolf expedition has taken some fragments and a little specimen, which, I think, must be referred 

 to this species. The whole specimen has a height of ca. 20""", and also the fragments seem to have 

 belonged to small specimens. As to outer form and skeletal structure the\- agree completely with the 

 typical specimens, and also the form of the spicules is the same; on the other hand the spicules of 

 these specimens are a little smaller, the length varying from o-36"""' quite down to 0-268""°, while the 

 thickness is about 0-014"'"'. In spite of this rather considerable difference in the size of the spicules, 

 I feel obliged to refer the specimens to this species, as the other structures show no difference, and 

 we also in the topical specimens may find spicules of a length not exceeding 0-36"'"". 



One specimen has further been taken at station 64, 62 06' Lat. N., 19" 00' Long. W., which I 

 must also refer to this species. It is of a similar size as that of the t>-pical specimens, but is irregu- 

 larly flattened ; in all other respects it is of quite the same structure, only the skin is 'somewhat incrusted 



The Ingolf-Expedition. VL i. 4 



