BY E. P. KALLMANN. 659 



by 25/1, the others straight, \ery iiuicli slenderer (only 6/a in 

 diameter), and relatively few in number. The spined microxea 

 attain a size of 200 by 6/x. 



//. coralloides ^'ar. liberiensis Higgin. Similar in outward 

 form to the preceding. Structure of the skeleton undescribed. 

 Megascleres of two kinds: stout curved oxea up to 660 by 32/a 

 in size, and longer, straight, "hair-like" oxea. Spined microxea 

 measviring 75 by 6//.. 



//. coralloides var. arcnaUi Higgin. Only slightly compressed, 

 submassive. Surface-features undesci'ibed. Skeleton consisting 

 of main lines of spicules extending vertically from the base, and 

 of secondary lines connecting these at various angles, both being 

 "echinated" wiih spicules (i.e., more or less plumose). The 

 megascleres (oxea) are not stated to be of two sizes; they are 

 comparatively small, measuring only 300 by 6/x. The spined 

 microxea measure 75 by 3*6/i. 



HiGGiNSiA CORALLOIDES Higgin, var. MASSALis Carter. 



(PL xxix., fig. 6; PI. xxxviii., figs. 6, 7; PL xxxix., figs.l, 2; 



PL xL, figs. 1-4.) 



1885. Hlgglnsia coralloides Carter(5), p.357. 



1885. llvjijinsia coralloides var. ynassalis Carter(5), p.357. 



1896. Hiijijinsia coralloides var. massalis Dendy(7), p. 243. 



Diagnosis. — Sponge more or less compressed; varying in form 

 from thickly flabellate and stipitate to submassive and sessile; 

 the margin entire. Surface longitudinally ridged and furrowed; 

 the ridges generally more or less discontinuous, appearing as a 

 succession of crenations or knobs; distance apart of the ridges, 

 2 to 3mm. Oscula small, marginal. Dermal membrane distinct, 

 finely porous. The "skeleton-sponge" consists of a series of 

 transverse, thin lamelUe, each only about a millimetre in thick- 

 ness, which are nearly quite separate from each other in their 

 uppermost portions, but become more and more intimately united 

 in the median plane of the sponge proceeding towards its base. 

 The skeleton of each lamella is a dense and intricate reticulation 

 of paucispicular main and connecting fibres and single spicules. 



