243 



Oxea (rather rare) 620 x 18 /', curved near the centre. 



Style (rare) 560 x 20 /<. 



Microscleres. — Microxeas, abundant, 70 x 3 ^, slightly curved 

 at the centre. 



Colour in spiri<t, pale yellow. 



Locality A. — East London coast, 85 fathoms. 



The one specimen, of which half has been sent, is 22 cm. in 

 height and the same in breadth, and the flattened stalk is 4 cm. 

 in height and 3 cm. in thickness. 



The characteristic feature of the new species is the presence 

 of microscleres in the form of microxea. 



The new species is a typical Phakdlia in all respects, excepting 

 in the occurrence of the microscleres ; if, however, the presence 

 of these spicules should render necessary the establishing of a 

 new genus, the latter would come between Higginsia and 

 Phakellia. 



Genus Tragosia (Gray). 



Tragosia infundibuliformis (Johnston), var. nataleusis, var. nov. 



Plate v., Fig. lo. Plate VI., Fig. loa-c. 



There are two small cup-shaped specimens of a new variety 

 of Johnston's species, each 3 cm. in height, 3 cm. in diameter 

 at the mouth, and with walls 1.5 mm. in thickness; their 

 colour is pale yellow. 



In the new variety there is a dermal skeleton composed of 

 bundles of spicules arranged tangentially to the surface, but 

 the vertical tufts which project from the surface in Johnston's 

 type are almost absent. 



The spicules are straight styles (very rare), 450-1200 x 12-13 /*; 

 narrowed at their base to 10 m ; and oxeas, 300 x 12 a*, slightly 

 curved at the centre. 



In Johnston's type (m the British Museum) the oxeas, about 

 the the same size as the latter, have an abrupt bend at the 

 centre ; and the style, which are very abundant and uniform in 

 size, are only 285 x 13 /*, and curved. In spite of the variation 

 in the styles, which have almost disappeared from the Natal 

 variety, and of the much greater development of the dermal 

 skeleton of the latter, this form seems to be only a well-marked 

 variety of T. infitiuiibnlifoniiis, Johnston. 



Localities. — C, off Tugela River mouth, 65-80 fathoms, hard 

 ground ; and D, off Cape Vidal, Natal, 80-100 fathoms, rock. 



Genus Axinella (Schmidt). 

 Axinella, sp. 



Sponge thick flabelliform, of the consistence of indiarubber, 



