Catalogue of Non-Calcarcons Sponges. 39 



the fibres ; a very few oxea of about the same proportions also 

 occur. The styli coring the main fibres are of about the same 

 length but much slenderer ; {b) comparatively long ; gradually 

 sharp-pointed at the apex, and evenly rounded oft' at the base ; 

 measuring about 0-19 by 0-003 mm.; occurring in the dermal 

 tufts and scattered between the fibres. 



Microsckres, a very few long, slender oxeote spicules, slightly 

 angulated in the middle, may perhaps represent toxa. They 

 measure up to about 0-25 by 0-002 mm. 



I have much pleasure in dedicating this species to Mr. J. 

 Gabriel, to whose dredging operations I am indebted foi' many 

 Victorian sponges. 



Ji.N. 915 (s.^5). 



Ophlitaspongia axiiielloides, n. sp. 



tSponge erect, lobose, stipitate. Vents small, mai-ginal. Surface 

 smooth, minutely reticulate. Colour in spirit pale yellow. 



Skeleton, the main skeleton is a rather close sub-rectangularly 

 meshed network of strongly-developed horny fibre. The primary 

 lines are about 0-07 mm. thick and pretty abundantly cored by 

 the short, smooth styli, many of which are ai'ranged in an 

 Axinellid manner, with their apices projecting obliquely upwards 

 and outwards from the filire. The secondary, connecting fibres 

 are a little slenderer, sparsely cored and rarely echinated by 

 scattered styli. Numerous styli are irregularly scattered in the 

 soft tissues between the fibres. The dermal skeleton is not very 

 strongly developed and consists of rather sparse, radiating tufts 

 of styli supported on an underlying reticulation of horny fibre 

 belonging to the uppermost part of the main skeleton. 



Megascleres, smooth, straight, styli ; usually short and stout, 

 evenly rounded and slightly narrowed at one end and tapering 

 gradually to a fine point at the other; measuring about O'l by 

 0-0082 nun. Such spicules are the most al)undant in all situa- 

 tions ; they are occasionally replaced by sharp-pointed oxea of 

 about the same dimensions, while longer and slenderer styli of 

 variable size occur plentifully scattered amongst them. The 

 latter are sometimes of almost hair-like proportions. 

 Ji.N. 329 (18 f ; "deep blood red"). 



