48 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 81 



Ectosomal specialization, insignificant. Endosomal structure, 

 fleshy, with spicules in confusion. 



Principal spicules, tylostyles (fig. 22) ; size 2jli by 200/i, to 9ju. by 

 270/x. 



Rem/irhs. — The nearest relative of this form seems to be the type 

 species, which is European. The variety calif omiana differs in hav- 

 ing spicules that average about one-fourth smaller than those of 

 the European form, and in lacking the spicules (often found in 

 the type variety) in which the head is so reduced that they are merely 

 styles, not tylostyles. Furthermore, I can not record the small oxeas 



C=:= 



Figure 22. — CUona celata Grant, X300 



and spirasters of the type variety, but this has no significance taxo- 

 nomically, because they often can not be found even in European 

 specimens, being normally scarce and easily overlooked. 



Genus SPHECIOSPONGIA Marshall 



SPHECIOSPONGIA CONFOEDERATA de Laubenfels 



Spheciosponffia confederata de Laubenfels, 1930, p. 26. 



Holofype.—U.S.l:^M. No. 21487; B. M. No. 29.8.22.50. 



Type locality — ^As noted below, there was a large mass of this 

 sponge at Point Pinos near Pacific Grove, Calif.; the holotype was 

 taken from it. 



Description. — Shape, massive. Size: The largest specimen is only 

 about 12 cm in diameter, but the mass in the field was 14 cm thick and 

 70 cm in diameter, with a central hollow where lay two large sea 

 urchins {Stongylocentrodus franciscanus) ; it would seem that the 

 sponge grew around them. This was among granite bowlders, ex- 

 posed to violent wave action, and out of water only at very low tides. 

 This or a similar mass had been there four years that I know of, and 

 longer according to Prof. W. K. Fisher. It had become appreciably 

 larger throughout the years, but the exact rate of growth can not be 

 given. Consistencj^, firm, slightly compressible. Color in life : Under 

 water, creamy gray; out of water, dull, purplish leaden gray; in an 

 aquarium the pore areas became lavender, the rest of the surface yel- 

 low. On subsequent daj^s the appearance of the pore area was fre- 

 quently rich brown, on account of coatings of diatoms apparently fil- 



