3o6 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



and 20 cm. high. None is complete, the base being absent or damaged in each case, but 

 in only one is there any sign of a cuticle, and in that it is restricted to a small patch on 

 one side of the sponge. 



The next batch of three, also from the Falklands, have a similar form, but more 

 irregular, and they are larger. The spiculation again is typical of P. tarantula. Here, 

 however, there is no sign of a cuticle ; but the specimens contain embryos, and these are 

 identical with the embryos found in the other groups of individuals referred to above as 

 belonging to this species. There can therefore be no doubt, on embryological evidence as 

 well as on spicular characters, that the carrot-shaped specimens of P. tarantula, the massive 

 specimens with a restricted cuticle, and the large spherical or pyramidal specimens with- 

 out cuticle are conspecific. 



Another specimen, also from Falkland Islands, is unattached and discoid (cf. Fig. 56 a), 

 but has the same spiculation and embryology as the other specimens of P. tarantula. 



Turning now to Tedania massa, Ridley and Dendy, with which species Paratedania 

 taranttda is most closely allied in spiculation, I find that the types of this species are as 

 follows : holotype and first co-type, large, massive or sub-pyramidal sponges, with ex- 

 tensive cuticle-covered areas at the base, resembling Fig. 25 b in general appearance but 

 much larger in size ; massive and without cuticle ; small and encrusting (on the back of a 

 crab), without cuticle^; and large and thinly flabellate, again without cuticle.^ More- 

 over, the embryos of Tedania massa are identical with those of Paratedania tarantula, so 

 that the species must be considered synonymous. 



Finally, a group of a dozen specimens, also from the Falklands, belong here but vary 

 in form from massive, spherical and flabellate (all fixed ?) to discoid and unattached, but 

 in none of them can any trace of a cuticle be found. 



Distribution. South America; Victoria Land; Wilhelm Land; Graham Land. 



Tedania spinata (Ridley). 



Trachytedania spinata, Ridley, 1881, p. 122, pi. x, fig. 10. 



Occurrence. St. 51: Falkland Islands, 105-115 m.; St. 222: Cape Horn, 70-75 m.; St. WS 72: 

 Falkland Islands, 79 m.; St. WS 75: Falkland Islands, 72 m.; St. WS 76: Falkland Islands, 205- 

 207m.; St. WS77: Falkland Islands, 110-11301.; St. WS79: Falkland Islands, 131-13201.; 

 St. WS80: Falkland Islands, 152-156 m.; St. WS 83 : Falkland Islands, 137-12901.; St. WS 88: 

 Falkland Islands, 96-127 m.;St. WS 91 .-Falkland Islands, 191-205 m.;St.WS 95 : Falkland Islands, 

 108-10901.; St. WS 108: Falkland Islands, 118-12010.; St. WS 109: Falkland Islands, 14501.; 

 St. WS 210: Falkland Islands, i6i 01.; St. WS 222: Falkland Islands, 100-106 m. ; St. WS 225: 

 Falkland Islands, 162-161 01.; St. WS 239: Falkland Islands, 196-193 01.; St. WS 243: Falklaod 

 Islands, 144-141 ni.; St. WS 249: Falkland Islands, 166 01. 



Remarks. The holotype of Trachytedania spinata, Ridley, forms a thin crust on the 

 valves of a Pecten. Its spiculation consists of smooth or basally spined styli o-i6-o-i9 

 by o-oo6 mm., tornota o-i8 by 0-004 mm., and onychaeta up to 0-15 mm. There are, in 

 the present collection, a number of specimens which appear to belong to this species. 



' Specimen from St. 163 D (i.e. Australia). The station reference is queried in the original label. 

 ^ The "encrusting" sponge of Ridley and Dendy. 



