PORIEFERA. I. 67 



in rather large numbers throughout the tissue; they are rouudisli, of a deep j'ellow colour (iu spirit), 

 filled with granules, and of an average size of o-oii™"\ 



Embryos. In one of the specimens which was cut through, a cavity of a diameter of 5—6""" 

 was found in the lower third part of the sponge, in the tissue, between the oscular canal and the 

 outer surface. In this cavity also the skeleton, even the skeletal lamellse were away, and its walls 

 were lined b>- a thin membrane. In the cavity was found a number (ca. 20?) of roundish embryos of 

 a diameter of about i""". They were presumably each surrounded by a thin membrane, as fragments 

 of such a one adhered to them when the>' were taken out. To judge by an examination of a couple 

 of the embryos, they seemed only to contain bows and sigmata, which were found copiously, and of 

 the same size as in the fuUgrown sponge, but no megasclera. 



Locality: Station 78, 60° 37' Lat. N., 27° 52' Long. W., depth 799 fathoms; station 90, 64^45' Lat. N., 

 29^ 06' Long. W., depth 568 fathoms, 9 specimens in all. The mentioned stations were both very rich 

 in sponges, station 78 even the richest of all the stations. 



4. G. microtoxa n. .sp. 

 PI. XIII, Fig. 9 a— d. Fig. 10. 

 Oblong-pyriform. Otttcrmost a rind-like, but comparatively tliiti drniial layer -<vitli rather close- 

 packed spicules lying in everv direction, hut parallel to the surface ; here and there this layer rises to 

 small prominences, so that the surface is jiot smooth. The inner skeleton forms an irregular, polyspiciilar 

 reticulation (probably ivith concentric la m el he j. Spicula: Megasclera oxea 0-62 — o-68""" ; microsclera 

 toxa, very small, o-oi — o'02""", sigmata of the com?non form^ but sometimes ivith the shaft somewhat bent 

 so as to form an angle, o-ojj — o-o/A'""". 



Of this species we have only a single, highly damaged specimen, mostly consisting of the 

 outer la}'er of the sponge while the interior is wanting. To judge by this specimen the species has 

 a similar form as that of the preceding one. The species has a length of 35'"™, and a greatest 

 breadth in the middle of 15""". The colour (in spirit) is yellowish white. The surface is not quite 

 smooth, as the spicules of the skin parallel to the surface, appear as a slightly conspicuous, irregular 

 reticulation; besides the surface has rather close-set, low, knob-like prominences. As in the preceding 

 species, the sponge is surrounded by a firm dermal layer provided with spicules lying in all directions 

 parallel to the surface, but they are not so close-set as in the preceding species; the dermal layer is 

 also much thinner than that of the preceding species. In the membrane the pores are scattered in 

 the intervals between the spicules; they are measured of a size from 0029 — 0.16'""'. As the sponge is 

 so much damaged, and the inner tissue is wanting, nothing can be said with regard to oscula and canals. 



The skeleton. As stated above, the sponge has outermost a firm dermal la\-er provided with 

 spicules Iving irregularly in all directions, but parallel to the surface; the.se spicules, however, are not 

 by far so close-packed as in the preceding species, and the dermal layer is much thinner. In certain 

 places some spicules rise pyramidically, their ends meeting, and consequently the skin is raised into 



authors ascribe to them different functions; evidently it is also these cells which Ridley and Dendy iChalleng. Report, 

 Monaxonida, XX, p. XXII, pi. XLIX, figs, i, i a, 2 al interpret as spongoblasts. 



