34 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 272 



of this genus. Although it is represented by many specimens in the 

 material available for this study, its distribution appears to be re- 

 stricted to the Chinese mainland. 



Eunapiiis geei (Annanda'e, 1918) 



Plate 2, figure 16; Plate 3, figures 5, 6 



Spongilla geei Annandale, 1918a, p. 202.— Gee, 1926c, p. 110; 1927b, p. 60; 1927a, 

 p. 4; 1928, p. 225; 1930e, p. 27; 1931c, p. 39; 1932c, p. 38; 1932d, p. 54.— Penney, 

 1960, p. 19. 



Material. — Fraction of syntype, obtained by N. Gist Gee, and 

 several slides. 



Description. — Sponge, according to Annandale (1918) and Gee 

 (192(3), apparently massive and nodulose, with a smooth surface. 

 Skeleton consisting of a regular network, with the radiating spicule 

 fibers better developed than the transverse ones; spongin moderately 

 abundant. Consistency of preserved sponge firm and compact. 



Megascleres comparatively short and stout amphioxea, entirely 

 smooth, abruptly pointed at their tips; length range 170-230 fj,, width 

 range 13-17 /x- 



Microscleres absent. 



Gemmoscleres slender and feebly curved amphioxea, covered with a 

 varying number of small and iiTegular spines; length range 70-95 /x, 

 width range 4-7 /x. 



Gemmules somewhat flattened, subspherical, numerous and freely 

 scattered throughout the sponge, each closely surrounded by skeletal 

 network; diameter 430-460 /x; pneumatic layer uniform and thick, 

 consisting of large polygonal air spaces; gemmoscleres, few in number, 

 embedded in this layer more or less tangentially; foramen provided 

 with a long and curved tubule, lying in a crater-like depression of the 

 pneumatic coat. 



Distribution. — Apparently restricted to the Chinese mainland. 



Color in life. — Light brown (Gee). 



Discussion. — This species shows close affinities to E. nitens (Carter) 

 from the African continent; it seems to differ from that species merely 

 by its obtusely pointed megascleres and by its less massive skeleton. 

 It is very Hkely that future comparative studies may relegate E. geei 

 to a synonym of E. nitens, but the material available for this study is 

 not large enough to permit such a decision. E. geei is therefore provi- 

 sionally retained as a separate species in this paper. 



Eunapiiis tinei (Gee, 1932) 



Spongilla tinei Gee, 1932f, p. 526; 1932c, p. 42.— Penney, 1960, p. 31. 



Material.— Slides of syntype (USNM no. 22180). 



Description. — Sponge, according to Gee (1932f), forming a thin 



