194 ART. 7. 1. IJIMA : HEXACTINELLIDA, IV. 



somewhat more abundantly in the region of tlie reflected marginal 

 flaps than lower down. They give to the gastral surface a 

 peculiarly hispid or spiny appearance, an idea of which may be 

 obtained from the appearance presented ])y the upper border of 

 fig. 15, PI. XIV. Similarly disposed needles are known to me 

 to occur on the gastral surface of S. tubulosus and jS. affinis ; 

 but in both these species their trichodal ends project to so short 

 an extent that their eflect upon the surface is to render it at 

 most delicately hairy. S. dowllngi also seems to be not altogether 

 devoid of needles protruding from the gastral surface ; but here, 

 F. E. Schulze ('gg, p. 49) was led to regard them as something 

 of occasional and rather accidental occurrence ; while L. M. 

 Lambe ('gs), in his description of that species, says that the 

 gastral surface is smooth, and makes no mention of projecting 

 needles. Now, in the present species, the needles in question are 

 spicules, coarse rather than fine and of a considerable length, and 

 moreover so abundant that they can not fail at once to attract 

 one's attention ; and in view of the well-preserved state of the 

 tissues, I see no reason for not assuming that we have here to 

 do with a normal character, probably constant to the species. 



Here I may interpolate an account of a specimen which I 

 provisionally refer to S. entaeantJms ])ut with a query. AVhile 

 agreeing as regards many characters with the above-described type- 

 specimen, it shows several points of difference, especially in regard 

 to the spiculation, — differences, whicli, on further study with more 

 material, may possil)ly turn (nit to be of more than individual value. 



The specimen in (|uestion {^'. 0. M. No. 403) was obtained 

 at Inside Okinose by the Iwado-lino from a depth of 618 m. 



