182 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Axinella erecta. Carter, sp. (PL XXXV. figs. 1, 2, 2a, 2h, 2c; PI. XXXVI. fig. 2 ; 

 PL XL. figs. 1, la). 



18G6. (?) Hijineraphia vermictdata, Bk. {^ part<), Mon. Brit. Spong., vol. i. pi. i. fig. 5; vol. ii. 



p. 1-11 ; vol. iii. pi. xxvi. figs. 1-3. 

 1867. (?) Buharis vermiculata, Gray, Proc. Zool. See. Lond., p. 522. 



1876. Ihjmeraphia vcrmindata, var. erecta, Carter (pars), Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 4, 



vol. xviii. p. 307, pi. xii. fig. 4; pi. xv. fig. 26, a, h. 



This very variable species is rei^resented iu the collection by a large number of 

 specimens from divers localities. 



The specimens from Inaccessible Island (PL XXXVI. fig. 2) are by far the finest ; 

 erect and massively ramose or subramose, the largest being 100 mm. in height and up to 

 41 mm. in breadth ; their spicules ai'e a good deal smaller than those of the smaller 

 specimens from other localities (PL XXXV. figs. 2, 2a, 2b, 2c), but the size of the spicules 

 is extremely variable in the same sponge and seems also to vary a good deal in difi"erent 

 individuals of this species. AU the specimens belong to Mr. Carter's var. erecta (loc. 

 cit., supra), which we here consider as the type of the species. The long stylote spicule 

 (PL XL. fig. 1) measures up to nearly 3 mm. in length, with a breadth of about 0"037 

 mm.; while the "vermicular" (strongylote) spicule (PL XL. fig. lo) measures about 0'2l 

 by 0"037 mm. (these measurements are taken from one of the small specimens from Station 

 148 a); the "vermicular" spicule is here considerably larger than in Mr. Carter's types, 

 which approach more nearly in spiculation to our specimens from Inaccessible Island. 



The specimens described by Bowerbank under the name Hymeraphia vermiculata are 

 mere patches of sponge, which might perhaps be young forms of other species as well as of 

 Axinella erecta. 



Schmidt's Axinella mastophora ^ approaches very near to this species ; it is, however, 

 distinguished by its external form (which may not, perhaps, count for much), consisting of a 

 number of erect, smooth lobes, and by the fact that the large stylote spicule is very con- 

 stantly constricted towards the base. Axinella rugosa, Schmidt," also comes very near to 

 this species in its spiculation and in the possession of a surface covered with rounded 

 rugosities, but is distinguished by the presence of very numerous, minute, angulated oxea. 



Localities.— Station 145a, December 27, 1873; lat. 46° 41' S., long. 38° 10' E.; off" 

 Marion Island; depth, 310 fathoms ; bottom, volcanic sand. One specimen, oi Clathria- 

 like external appearance, subfrondose and of a deep brown colour. 



Station 147, December 30, 1873; lat. 46° 16' S., long. 48° 27' E.; west of Crozet 

 Island; depth, 1600 fathoms; bottom, Diatom ooze; bottom temperature, 34°'2. Two 

 specimens. 



Station 14Sa, January 3, 1874; lat. 46° 53' S., long. 51° 52' E.; oS" Crozet Island; 

 depth, 550 fathoms; bottom, hard ground, gravel, shells. Twenty-six specimens. 



Inaccessible Island, October 1873 ; depth, 90 fathoms. Four specimens. 



1 Spong. Atlant. Guljitt., p. CI, pi. iv. fig. 14. - Loc. cit. 



