Catalogue of Non-Calcareous Sponges. 247 



otliei" Clia]inina3 with which I am actiuainted. Both specimens 

 contain numerous developing embryos and come from the same 

 station, so that they may possibly be parts of one and the same 

 sponge. 



R.N. 1055 (x A) ; 1079 (x A). 



Family HETERORRHAPHID^. 



Skeleton reticulate, never plumose. Megascleres of various 

 forms. Microscleres usually present, but never chela?. 



Genus Gellii/s, Gray. 



Sponge without rind or tistulse. Megascleres all diactinal, 

 oxea or strongyla. Microscleres present in the form of sigmata, 

 toxa or trichodragmata. Very little spongin present, never 

 forming distinct fibres. 



Gellius plii/lipc7isis, h. sp. 



Massive or, encrusting, with smooth but uneven surface and 

 prominent vents. In spirit the texture is spongy, resilient and 

 friable, and the colour white or yellowish. 



Skeleton., the main skeleton is a close-meshed network of 

 spicules with little or no spongin, the arrangement being between 

 Renieroid and Halichondrioid. The dermal skeleton is a close- 

 meshed reticulation of spicular fibre echinated by abundant tufts 

 of oxea projecting at right angles to the surface. 



Megascleres, rather slender, slightly curved oxea ; usually 

 gradually sharp-pointed and measuring about 0"1S by 0-0055 mm. 



Microscleres, (a) very numerous, very slender sigmata, varying 

 greatly in length, simple and contort, (b) trichodragmata ; 

 bundles of hair-like spicules varying much in length in dift'erent 

 bundles. 



In the presence of trichodragmata this species resembles 

 Carter's Fibularia massa* which is a Gellius from Nassau. 



R.N. 334 (7 f ; " wax yellow "); 702 (s. 5 ; "brownish-yellow "); 

 723 (s. 5); 973 (s. 5); 794 (variety?). 



* A.-M.N.U., April, 1882, p. 282. 



