72 ART. 1.— I. IJIMA : HEXACTINELLTDA, IIT. 



must have been roundish, measuring about 1-5 mm. across. The 

 texture of the sponge is quite h'ght, soft and fragile. The spicules 

 are all very fine and loosely interwoven ; they do not combine to 

 form bundles of a noticeable strength, except in the region of 

 the severed base. Both the external and internal surfaces are 

 covered with a loose, delicate and irregular interlacement of the 

 dermalia and the gastralia respectively, beneath which are seen 

 canalar aj^ertares not more than 2 mm. in diameter. 



The second specimen was found in the same bottle together 

 with specimens of Lanuginella pupa. The locality is Outside 

 Okinose ; depth unknown. The small body is barrel-shaped, 

 measuring only 9 mm. in length and 4 mm. in breadth at the 

 middle. Wall up to le mm. in thickness. An osculum of 1 mm. 

 diameter occupies one end, while the other end is provided with 

 a basidictyonal mass. Macroscopically the specimen presents no 

 specially characteristic feature. Suffice it to say that, without 

 studying its spiculation, it might easily pass for a young C/iauno- 

 'plectella cavernosa or for a Leucojpsacus or a Lanuginella. 



Spiculation. 



First, as to the spiculation of the type-specimen. As in 

 general appearance of the sponge, so also in this respect there is 

 observable a near approach to the young Cliaunoplectalla cavernosa. 



The jmrenchymalia consist of hexactins and diactins. No 

 other forms of spicules have been found amongst them. 



The liexactinic parenchymalia are of quite variable dimensions, 



