CAULOPHACUS LOTIFOLTUM. 89 



places the bundles are fully 2 mm. thick ; in others they nre 

 quite fine. The coarser bundles are seen to run from the narrow 

 end of the body divergingly towards the oscular edge, interposed 

 between the dermal layer and the choanosomal mass. On the 

 way thither they frequently divide and unite or send out anasto- 

 mosino' branches. The finer bundles stretch over the subdermal 

 space entirely separate from the choanosome but in union with 

 the dermal layer. 



Through the dermal layer and separated from it by the 

 subdermal space which varies in width in different places, are 

 seen the roundish or oval entrances into incurrent canals. These 

 do not exceed 6 mm. in diameter. 



Towards the narrow end of the body and on the stalk, the 

 dermalia lose the lattice -like arrano-ement and liccome so denselv 

 crowded together as to form a smooth compact coating of frosted 

 appearance. The coating easily falls off" and, in the greater part 

 of the lower two- thirds of the stalk, is lost. The surface thus 

 exposed is soiled and has given attachment to a creeping Hydroid 

 stolon. Except in the upper end the stalk is quite firm, owing 

 to an extensive synapticular fusion of spicules. This fusion is 

 however not participated in by the dermal pinnies and the liypo- 

 dermal oxypentactins, nor by the liexasters present in that region. 

 Superiorly the fusion gradually disappears and at the junction with 

 the sponge-body all the spicules are loose, the parenchymalia here 

 running parallel and densely packed together but soon to split 

 above, as far as seen on the surface, into the coarse hypodermal 

 bundles before mentioned. 



The stalk is hollow, being axially traversed by a canal 

 measuring 3 mm. or less in diameter. It may therefore be said 

 to be a thick-walled tube. The lumen is evidently an extension 



