86 I. IJIMA : HEXACTINEELIDA. I. 



EUPLECTELLA MARSHALLI Ij. 



Pis. iir, IV & V. 



EvplecteUa JIarsIialli, Ijima, '95, p. 93. 



Under the above designation in 1895 I briefly described a 

 second species of Euplectella inhabiting the Sagami Sea. Though 

 evidently a very close relative of E. owenl Herkl. & Marsh,, 

 long known as from Japan, it clearly deserves to be considered 

 as a distinct species. 



E. marshaUi became originally known to me from Döketsba 

 (see p. 13). Depth 7-5-160 fms. (137-292 m.) ; bottom shelly. 

 As spots where one may be almost certain of securing specimens of 

 the species, I may mention : Matswa Lighthouse line by 3Iera 

 2-3 ; Ena line by Mera 2-3 ; cfec. Since the first specimen was 

 brought to me by Kuma in 1894, scores must have been taken 

 on the same ground by different collectors, I myself having to 

 account for a goodly number. Apparently the species flourishes 

 there in luxuriance, alone by itself and not in association with 

 E. imperialis, which belongs to a deeper bottom of a quite 

 different nature. It has thus afforded me a rich series of 

 materials which has enabled me to institute a much closer study 

 of it than of any other species of the Hexactinellida. 



However, Doketsba does not seem to be the only locality 

 where E. marshaUi is found. During the cruise of S.S. * Onoura 

 Maru ' on behalf of the Fishery Bureau of the Japanese govern- 

 ment in 1893, a young specimen, only 44 mm. long, was 

 obtained off Okada, a small village on the northern coast of 



