15 



slightly roughened. The smooth, proximal part of the radial main-ray is 16 /» 

 long, the spined terminal part longer. The spines measure 10-20 A'in length and 

 are directed obhquely upwards. The bud-shaped upper end contains a medium 

 sized central cone. The gastral pinules of the inner side of the funnel-wall are 

 similar to the dermal ones. 



The margin of the funnel is composed of diactine marginalia. These 

 resemble the main-rays of the pinules in that their proximal ray is smooth and 

 sharp pointed, whilst the distal ray is covered with oblique spines, bushy and in 

 appearance comparable to an Italian poplar. At the centre of the spicule there 

 are four hemispherical protuberances arranged crossways (pi. Y, f. 4). 



The dermal macramphidiscs are 200-300, rarely 400 h- long, and have 

 approximately-hemispherical terminal discs, 100-200 /* broad and about 80 /* high 

 with 8 spade-like marginal teeth. The shaft is about 15 H- thick and bears 

 tubercles, four larger ones arranged crosswise in the centre, and several smaller 

 ones scattered irregularly over the whole length (pi. V, f. 10). 



Mesamphidiscs are scarce. They are about 100 /* long, have relatively 

 higher terminal discs with eight marginal spade-like teeth 40 /* long and a shaft 

 which is, particularly in its central part, considerably tuberculous (pi. V, f. 7). 



The micramphidiscs are numerous and of the shape and size usual in 

 Hyalonema species (pi. V, f. 8, 9). 



The microhexactines are abundant in the parenchyme. They have smooth, 

 curved rays 60 /^ long (pi. Y, f. 5, 6). Larger and much stouter oxyhexactines 

 with quite straight, strongly tuberculous rays (pi. Y, f. 3, 11) are scattered 

 throughout the parenchyme. 



The only complete specimen of this fine species was captured in the Bay of 

 Bengal, 11° 58' N., 88° 5' 17" E. in a depth of 3200 m. = 1748 fths. A fragment 

 of another was procured in the Andaman sea 18° 50' 30" N., 93° 26' 8" B., from 

 a depth of 911 m.=498 fths. 



Hyalonema lamella F. E. Sch. 

 Plate XIX. 



1900 Hyalonema lamella F. E. Seh. ia Abb. Preuss. Ak. 1900 pp. 15-19, Taf, III. 



Some lamellar fragments of a sponge were procured southwest of Cape 

 Comorin, in two adjacent localities, from depths of 787 m.=430 fths. and 1530 

 m.=836 fths. respectively. For the reasons stated below I place this sponge in 

 the genus Hyalonema. Since, however, the lower half of the body is missing, I 

 must admit that its systematic position is not quite certain. 



The better preserved one of the two specimens was captured 7° 17' 30" N., 

 76° 54' 30" E. in a depth of 787 m.=430 fths. It is a rather harsh and brittle 



