*238 



The resemblance, both in form and spiculation, to Podo- 

 spongia lovcnii, Bocage, [i, p. 159, pi. x., fig. i] is so close as 

 to suggest that the new form should be regarded merely as a 

 variety of the latter. The North Atlantic species is without 

 the large discasters with simple spines, which are plentifully 

 scattered in the choanosome of the new species ; and the somal 

 discasters (40 x 20 h), in Bocage's species, are longer and more 

 slender, and with the superior verticil of simple spines almost 

 or entirely fused with the terminal spike, which is often 

 bifurcated ; lastly, the styles are abundant and straight in P. 

 lovcnii. 



Family Spirastrellidae. 

 Kalastrella, gen. nov. 



Spirastrellidae pedicellate, vasiform or sub-caliculate, with 

 tyles, styles, and oxeas for megascleres, and for microscleres 

 euasters forming an ectosomal layer and distributed in the 

 body. 



Kalastrella vasifcrmis, sp. n. 

 Plate v., Fig. 3. Plate VI., Fig. .sa-f. 



Sponge vase-shaped, pedicellate, the wall being formed of 

 a network with narrow longitudinal meshes, with the strands 

 mainly composed of styles and oxeas, with small bundles of 

 the same projecting out at right angles to the outer surface. 



Surface (in the specimens) partly covered with a pale 

 yellowish white cortex, composed of asters leaving the glassy- 

 looking skeleton, visible in places, especially at the upper half 

 of the sponge. 



Spicules. Megascleres. — Tyle (or sub-tylostyle), length 

 128 /* by 5 fi, often with one or two sharp prickles at the summit. 



Style, 2150 X 50 M, curved about the middle. 



Strongyle, 1762 x 54 /j, curved at the middle. 



Oxea, 2150 X 50 /', curved at the middle. 



Microscleres. — Euasters of all sizes up to 30 /* with centrum 

 of 8 M, with about 10 stout, blunt, roughened actines. 



Locality C. — Mouth of Tugela River, 65 fms. ; bottom, h.ird 

 ground. 



The new genus comes near Spirashrlla, the ectosomal layer 

 of spirasters of the latter being replaced by euasters (hence the 

 generic name). 



The three specimens of the new species are of about the 

 same size and shape ; the height is 2 cm., diameter of mouth 



