BY E. P. KALLMANN. 535 



contort. The former vary in length from 27 to 50//, the latter 

 from 12 to 18/*, measured from bend to bend; and their maximal 

 stoutness is respectively I'S/x and 1/x. 



(ii.)The trichites or microxea, whether in dragmata or scattered 

 singly, are all of the same kind. They are slightly fusiform, 

 from 22 to 48/a in length, and from 05 to Owo/x in stoutness. 



SiGMAXiA, gen.nov. 



DeJiiiition.—AxineWidss typically of erect habit, stipitate, 

 without conuli or other kind of surface-processes. Skeleton a 

 reticulation of spiculo-spongin fibre; the main fibres more or less 

 plumose, the connecting fibres typically few. Megascleres of 

 two distinct kinds,— styli forming the fibres, and flexuous 

 strongyla occurring interstitially. Microscleres : sigmata and 

 trichites (or microxea), the latter in dragmata and scattered 

 singly. 



Type, S.Jtabellata Carter; the only species. 



SiGMAXIA FLABELLATA Carter. 



(PI. xxxiii., fig.5; PI. xxxvi., figs. 2, 3.) 



1885. Axinella Jlabellala Carter(3), p. 361. 



1896. Signia.xinella flabeJlafa Dendy(2), p. 241. 



Diagnosis. — Sponge composed of one or several proliferous, 

 thick lamellie, or of a single more or less flabelliform lamella, 

 springing from a short stalk. Surface coarsely granular. Oscula 

 minute, marginal (or scattered ?). Dermal membrane very thin; 

 no dermal skeleton. Skeleton chiefly formed of loosely con- 

 stituted, semi-plumose, stout main fibres, comparatively poor in 

 spongin, running longitudinally side by side in moderately close 

 apposition, and gradually curving towards the surface; connect- 

 ing fibres few, arranged in-egularly, mostly paucispicular, some- 

 times without contained spicules. Megascleres : styli, curved or 

 slightly bent, and gradually sharp-pointed, occasionally passing 

 into oxea, from 300 to 350/x in maximal length and up to 18/jt in 

 stoutness; and slender, flexuous strongyla and (fewer) tornota, 

 200 to (rarely) 580/i in length, and at most 7/x in diameter. 

 Microscleres : slender sigmata 15 to 20/ji. long; and trichites of 



