REPORT ON THE MONAXONID.^. 43 



irregular reticulation, of very loose spiculo-fibre, the meshes of which are about one 

 spicule in breadth. 



Spicules. — (a) Megasclera; stout, slightly curved oxea (PI. XIII. fig. 5), tapering not 

 very suddenly to a fairly sharp point at each end ; size 0"42 by 0"018 mm. (b) Micros- 

 clera; sigmata (PI. XIII. fig. 10) are present in great abundance, and attain to a great 

 length and a high degree of curvature, being folded once on themselves, so as to resemble 

 little whip-lashes (whence the specific name), the greatest length from curve to curve 

 of these spicules is about 0'06 mm., thickness about 0'0021 mm., the real length is con- 

 cealed by the curvature, and is, of course, much greater than that given. In addition to 

 these long sigmata there are also present numerous smaller ones of the usual shape, 

 possibly young forms of the others, size 0"044 by 0'0025 mm., &c. These smaller 

 sigmata are especially abundant in the dermal membrane. 



Only two small specimens of this sponge were obtained. The most characteristic 

 features about it are the size and shape of the microsclera, which, taken together, are 

 quite sufficient to distinguish it from any other Gellius. 



Vosmaer mentions under " Gellius vagabundus (0. S.)," in The Sponges of the 

 "Willem Barents" Expedition, 1880 and 1881, p. 29 (sejs), a variety of that species 

 possessing oxea and sigmata, similar in form to those of our species. His specimen, 

 though containing a few styli, is obviously a true Gellius {Gellius vagabundus being 

 Desmacella for us), and it is not improbably referable to Gellius jiagelliger. It was 

 obtained by the "Willem Barents" expedition of 1880, and hence probably in the 

 Arctic Sea, though the exact locality is unknown. Having regard to the want of 

 definite characters in this species, other than the form of the sigmata, we cannot 

 further insist on the strong resemblance which this form bears to our species, as its 

 locality is so far removed from that of Gellius Jlagellifer. 



Locality. — Ofi" Marion Island, 50 to 75 fathoms. Two small specimens. 



Gellius calyx, Eidley and Dendy (PI. VIII. figs, 6, G« ; PI. XIII. figs. 2, 9). 



1886. Gellius calyx, Eidley and Dendy, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, vol. xviii. p. 334. 



Sponge (PL VIII. fig. 6) consisting of a pyriform body attached by the narrow end to 

 a long slender stalk, which is very slightly expanded at the base ; body hollow, with a 

 single large rounded opening at the summit (PI. VIII. fig. 6a). The whole sponge closely 

 resembling, in size and shape, the flower of a crocus. Length of stalk 50 mm. Mean 

 diameter of stalk 2 mm. Length of body 33 mm., greater breadth of body 10 mm. 

 Diameter of mouth 4 mm. Colour in spirit pale greyish-yellow. Texture of the body 

 very soft, fragile and crumbling ; of the stem hard and stringy. The fibres of the stalk 

 appear to spread out on reaching the body, so that the lowest part of the latter is firm 

 and dense. Surface minutely hirsute, even, but with numerous minute holes, probably 



