CHAUNOPLECTELLA SPlNlFERA. 77 



indicated as being present in the second specimen are scarcely 

 distinguishable from the like hexasters of Ch. cavernosa, and I 

 should possibly have held the specimen to be a young indivi- 

 dual of that species, had it not been for the total absence of the 

 sigmatocome and for the not infrequent occurrence, near the 

 gastral surface, of an exceedingly fine-rayed discohexaster-form (PL 

 v., fig. 17), which is comparable to that which I have described 

 as the fourth variety in the type specimen of Ch. spinife7'a. This 

 discohexaster-form measures about 80/« or more in diameter ; 3-5, 

 filamentous and obsoletely rough-surfaced terminals, each with 

 a small and minutely toothed terminal disc, form a more or less 

 distinct tuft to each principal. It seems to pass over gradationally 

 into the third discohexaster-form, as this likewise does into the 

 first. 



A thorough examination of the slide- preparations, into which 

 the entire specimen was converted, revealed a single case of a 

 strobiloplumicome being included in the tissues. I can not but 

 think that this is extrinsic, — that it originally belonged to 

 Lanuginella pupa, together with which the specimen had Ijeen 

 thrown in the same bottle. 



After all, the peculiarities which the spiculation of tlic second 

 specimen presents in comparison with the type, I consider as due 

 merely to individuality. 



The basidictyonalia, preserved in the second specimen, presents 

 much the same characters as that oîC/i. cavernosa (PL V., fig. 13). 



