PORIFERA. I. 75 



under his Desmacella vagabunda, which has been the cause that Vosniaer has referred the species 

 before him to Gcllius %'agabimdus as a variety. The species of Schmidt is from Florida from a depth 

 of 228 fathoms, but as no nearer description or measures are given it cannot be decided, whether the 

 species is either of the species mentioned here, or perhaps a third species. The flagellate .sigma is of 

 a peculiar form, but we cannot lay much stress upon that, especially as we do not know, whether the 

 figured form is the typical one. 



Gelliodes Ridley. 



The form soiiinvhat varying, sometimes irregular, but often well defined, erectly cylindric, leaf- 

 or funnel-shaped. The skeleton has akvays well developed, often lo7ig fibres, with more or less, but most 

 freqicently rather little spongin. The fibres may form a network, or be arranged in a more dendritic 

 manner. Spicula: Megasclera diactinal, oxea; microsclera sigmata or sigma ta and toxa. 



I. G. plexa n. sp. 

 Pl.V, Figs. 3— 4, PI. XIV, Fig. 3 a— d. Figs. 4— 5. 



Erect, funnel-shaped (probably ahvays so). The dermal membrane thin, resting on the subjacent, 

 irregular netzuork; spicules and bundles of spicules project, and therefore the surface is finely spii/ulous. 

 Oscula only found o>i the inside, numerous and small. The skeleton consists of numerous powerful, poly- 

 spicular fibres branching from the base, zi'hich is almost exclusively formed by these fibres, up through 

 the spo)ige, and forming a very so/id skeleton. Rather little spongin. Spicula: Megasclera oxea 0-417 

 — o'SJ"""- microsclera toxa o-ii — o-i6""" ; sigmata 0-0128 — o-oi^"^"'. 



The specimens in hand of this species have been somewhat damaged in the trawl, so that 

 there may be some doubt as to the outer form of the species, at all events with regard to the limits 

 between which it may vary. We have two pieces of a form as erect leaves narrowing below, but here 

 they are broken off. In both pieces one surface is a little convex, the other a little concave. On the 

 other hand a third, somewhat smaller specimen has a calicular form, and narrows also below; but also 

 this specimen is broken off here. According to these facts it is probable that the two first-mentioned 

 pieces are parts of a likewise calicular sponge, and that the form of the species is as a perhaps short- 

 stalked cup with a wide opening. Of the two mentioned pieces one has a greatest height of 130'"'" and 

 a breadth of ca. go-""; the thickness in the middle is 10—12"""; it is greatest below, and decreases to- 

 wards the upper edge; thus where the sponge is broken off, it is ca. 22""". The calicular specimen 

 which is also much damaged, is somewhat smaller, it has a height of 75'"'"; the width of the funnel 

 cannot be given with certainty, as the edge is broken off, but ma\- be estimated at ca. 45""", and the 

 thickness below where the specimen is broken off, is about i8'"'". The colour (in spirit) is grayish 

 white or somewhat darker gra>ish. On account of the many strong longitudinal fibres the con.sistency 

 is rather firm. The surface where it is undamaged, is finely spinulous on account of the projecting 

 spicules and bundles of spicules. The dermal membrane is thin, and rests on the subjacent irregular 

 network of fibres. Oscida anA pores: As the skin is only kept to a small extent, the facts with regard 



