90 ART. 7. 1. TJIMA : HEXACTINELLIDA, IV. 



long, obliquely running and intersecting strands, which run direct- 

 ly beneath the ectosome. Since this lies close over the choano- 

 somal surface, the said strands may as well be regarded as form- 

 ing a part of the hypodermal framework as to be considered the 

 most superficially situated parenchymal bundles. 



Where the thin ectosome has fallen away, the choanosomal 

 surface appears somewhat roughened on account of numerous 

 shredded ends of very small parenchymal bundles (the pillars), 

 which, coming up from below, terminate just at the ectosomal 

 surface. The little shreds are apparently, at least in part, formed 

 of those parenchymalia which accompany the unpaired proximal 

 ray of hypodermal pentactins. 



In the upper part of the gastral cavity the surface, perfo- 

 rated by small excurrent canalar apertures, at places presents 

 simply a coarse felt-like appearance. This is doubtless due to 

 the loss by abrasion of tlie gastral layer or the endosome which 

 must have once covered the entire gastral surface. At any rate, 

 the deeper and by far the greater part of the cavity is actually 

 lined by a delicate and continuous endosomal layer, through 

 which are seen the excurrent canalar apertures as well as the 

 subgastrally running, long and intersecting strands of the paren- 

 chymal mass. At places the surface shows dead-white patches, 

 as if affected by a mould ; these are due to excessive local 

 accumulations of gastralia. 



Spiculation. 



PI. VII I. , figs. 1 and 2, will S3rve to give a general idea 

 of the spiculation of the species. 



