THE POKIFERA. 85 



found ecbinating the skeleton fibre, thus bringing this 

 variety into Mr. Carter's order Echinonemata. 



L. M. B. C, No. 85. 8. Collected at Port Erin, Isle of 

 Man. 



L.F. M., No. 4. 9. 74, 5. Collected at Holyhead. 



Esperia oegagropila, C. 



Desmacidon cegagropila, Bk. 

 Halichondria cegagropila^ Bk. 



This species* is also the British representative of a large 

 group of wide distribution, the genus Esperia of Nardo. 

 The skeleton spicule is a sub-pin-like form, the inflated end 

 of which is usually of less diameter than the shaft, and the 

 flesh spicules are bihamate, tricurvate, and inequianchorate. 

 A characteristic feature of the genus is a beautiful polygonal 

 lace-like dermal reticulation covering the surface, by which 

 examples are readily recognised. 



L. F. M., No. 18. 10. 73. 4. Collected at Holyhead. 



Family. — Suberitida. 

 Cliona celata, J. 

 Raphyrus griffitJisia, Bowerbank. 



Johnston described two varieties of this sponge, one 

 "massive," the other "sinuous." The massive variety Dr. 

 Bowerbank made a new genus for, and named it Raphyrus 

 griffithsia ; the sinuous variety, that found boring into shells, 

 he placed iu his genus Hymeniacidorif as Hymeniacidon 

 celata. Mr. Carter has found Johnston's view more correct 

 than that of Bowerbank, and asserts that the sinuous form 

 becomes the massive form. In support of this view, from 

 a large number of examples of this sponge (which is 



* Johnston's Brit. Spong., p. 119, pi. xi, fig. 1 ; Jilon. Brit. Spong., vol. 

 ii, p. 352 ; vol. iii, pi. Ixiii, figs. 8-14 ; pi. Ixxxiii, fig. 23. Spovgienf. 

 Atlan., Schmidt, 1852, pp. 53-57, pi. v, fig8. 2-8, 14. 



