28 ALLAN HANCOCK PACIFIC EXPEDITIONS VOL.11 



Remarks. — There seems to be more overlapping in the size ranges of 

 the styles and oxeas in the Gulf specimens than in the specimens from 

 the Pacific side. 



Genus THIELEIA Burton 



Thieleia rubiginosa (Thiele) 



Plate 48, Fig. 96 ; Plate 49, Fig. 97 



Hymeniacidon rubiginosa Thiele, 1905, p. 421. 

 Thieleia rubiginosa Burton, 1932, p. 329. 



Diagnosis. — Gulf specimens of this sponge are drab and cartilaginous. 

 The surface is conulose with oscules up to 2 mm in diameter often located 

 on the cones. The endosome is drab and "bready." There is some evidence 

 of vertical structure, and the oscules open into cavities v^^hich often go 

 completely through the sponge. 



The only spicules are styles most typically 9 /x by 300 [i but with 

 variations plus and minus. 



Holotype. — British Museum. 



Type locality. — West coast of South America. 



Distribution. — West coast of South America to the Gulf of California. 



Material examined. — 

 Sta. 552-36 Angel de la Guardia Island 3- 6-36 Shore 



Sta. 553-36 Pond Island 3- 8-36 Shore 



Remarks. — The cloacal-like cavities running through these specimens, 

 while not unique for the family, are unusual for the genus. 



Genus HIGGINSIA Higgin 

 Higginsia higginissima, new species 

 Plate 49, Fig. 98 ; Plate 50, Figs. 99, 100 ; Plate 51, Fig. 101 



Diagnosis. — This sponge is coral pink in alcohol. It is composed of 

 stocklike growths fused together into a mass. Its consistency is cartila- 

 ginous. There is much infiltrated sand in the specimen, and the surface 

 is so caked and imbedded that the pores and oscules cannot be located 

 properly. The size is 7 cm by 5 cm by 4 cm. 



The principal megascleres are oxeas which average in size about 12 /* 

 by 600 ju,. There is considerable variation, however, and occasionally 

 oxeas up to 20 fi by 1,800 p. are found. The second megascleres are smooth 

 styles. These are rather rare. They have the same general measurements 

 as the oxeas, although they do not attain quite the extremes in size. 



The first microsclcres are spined strongyles which are often sharply 

 bent at the center. The typical size is 3 /x by 90 /*. The second microscleres 



