Catalogue of Non-Calcareous Sponges. 243 



Genus Higginsia, Higgin. 



Axinelliclse of massive ol' lobose external form and irregular, 

 confused skeleton. With oxeote or stylote megascleres and 

 small spined oxea (microxea) for microscleres. 



This genus appears to be nearly related to Dendropsis, Ridley 

 and Dendy, but differs much in external form and skeleton 

 arrangement. 



Higginsia coralloides, Higgin. 



Higginsia coralloides, Higgin, A.M.N.H., April, 1877, p. 291, 

 pi. xiv., figs. 1-5. 



Higginsia coralloides, Carter, A.M.N. H., November, 1885, p. 

 357. ' ' 



Higginsia coralloides, var. massalis, Carter, loc. cit. 



There are six more specimens of this remarkable sponge in the 

 collection, and as Higgin's original type was a dried and washed 

 out specimen, while Carter contents himself with little more 

 than identification, it may be desirable tc add a few particulars 

 derived from well-preserved spirit specimens. 



The external form varies from massive and irregular to stipitate 

 and thickly flabellate with marginal vents. The surface is rugose 

 or conulose, with reticulate dermal membrane stretched between 

 the projections. Texture pretty compact but resilient and 

 yielding. Colour in spirit nearly white. 



The skeleton is very confused and irregular, without any 

 definite fibre, composed of densely intermingled oxeote spicules, 

 especially aggregated in wide tracts which trend towards the 

 surface and end in the conuli. The presence of these ill-defined 

 tracts of spicules, with intervening spaces almost free from 

 megascleres, gives a somewhat columnar character to vertical 

 sections. Internally all the tracts unite in one dense, irregular 

 agglomeration of spicules. 



The megascleres are, as pointed out by Higgin, of two kinds, 

 stout oxea and slender oxea, the latter being chiefly aggregated 

 in loose dermal tufts or brushes. The microcleres are slender, 

 slightly curved, often angulated, spined oxea. 



Having received from Mr. Carter a boiled out preparation of 

 spicules from a Grenada specimen, doubtless Higgin's original 

 type, I have been able to satisfy myself of the correctness of the 



10A 



