404 



REVISION OF THE MONAXONID SPONGES, 111., 



The main skeleton is a very irregular, small-meshed reticulation 

 of stout, spieular fibre, of diameter often exceeding 100 mm. The 

 spicules of the fibres are closely packed together side by side, while 

 the spongin-cement, which unites them, is inconspicuous on account 

 of its pale colour, and, only in connection with the slenderer con- 

 necting fibres, forms a visible sheath. Owing to the washed-out 

 condition of the specimens, scarcely any interfibral substance 



Fig. 1.3. — Mycah ridleyi. 

 c, Smaller anisochel«. 

 /, Smaller sigma. g, Toxa 



a, Styli. b, Larger anisochela?. 



d, Isochelse. e, Larger sigma. 



Microxea (trichites). 



remains; but what little there is, serves to show that, in all pro- 

 bability, microscleres were abundantly scattered everywhere 

 through the tissues. The dermal skeleton is a more or less confused, 

 somewhat lattice-like, reticulation, formed by the branching and 

 anastomosing of strands of loosely associated subtylostyli similar 



