CHAUNOPLECTELLA CAVERNOSA. 55 



rather obtusely edged, without fringing spicules. The gastral 

 cavity was tubular, 105 mm. deep and somewhat narrowed at the 

 bottom. The attachment-surface of the base was covered over 

 with a compact basidictyonal plate, 2 mm. thick, from which the 

 loose parenchymal spicules could be easily se2:)arated without 

 injuring their ends. 



Another ovoid and comj^lete specimen I examined was 190 

 mm. high and 15 mm. broad. It was attached to a smooth 

 loose stone. 



Some specimens show a more elongate and vase-like shape ; 

 they may be cylindrical or more or less laterally compressed. 

 Further, the basal end may sometimes be bent, probably as the 

 result of the sponge happening to grow upon a perpendicular 

 surface. — The tallest specimen I have seen was an erect, laterally 

 compressed, vasiform individual, 200 mm. high. Another elongate 

 but cylindrical specimen (190 mm. long) was remarkable for the 

 fact that it grew with a bent base upon a piece of porcelain 

 ware, a part of an old-fiishioned Japanese oil-burner, that had 

 probably been dropped from a sea-faring junk. 



PI. v., fig. ]0, represents in half natural size a strongly 

 laterally compressed, pouch-like specimen, exceptionally w^ell 

 preserved as to the delicate spicular texture. It belonged to Mr. 

 Alan Owston (O. C. No. 4386). Height, 156 mm. Breadth, 125 

 mm. on one side and 65 mm. on the other. Wall, 30 mm. thick 

 in the thickest part. Osculum, irregularly oval, 60 mm. in 

 longest diameter ; its margin, sharp but not thin. The stalk-like 

 base is bent towards one side ; this bending, it wall be noticed, 

 is in the sagittal plane of the compressed body, which fact is 

 the rule wntli all lyssacine Hexactinellids having a laterally 

 compressed body and bent base. 



