38 



quite naked but, for a certain distance, surrounded by a sponge-tissue, wMcli in 

 external appearance resembles the loose structure of a Hyalonema-body and is in 

 one case as large as a fist. In another one of these specimens this sponge 

 tissue is more compact, and has, apart from a few short oscular tubes, a smooth 

 surface. In one specimen the sponge-tissue covering the_ root-tuft has' the 

 appearance of a porous crust. 



Closer investigation has shown that the loose specimen of the size of a fist 

 and the porous incrusting specimens are Monaxonid Sponges, belonging to the 

 genus Oellius, the large one representing a new species. The compact specimen 

 consists of two spindle-shaped masses, one above the other, 3 cm. long and 1 cm. 

 thick, and 9 cm. long and 3 cm. thick respectively. Also these are Monaxonid 

 sponges and represent a new species of Suherites. 



The last named specimen was found in the Laccadives 11" 12' 17" N., 74° 

 25' 30" E. in a depth of 1830 m.=1000 fths.; the large, massive Oellius south-west 

 of North Sentinel Island in the Andamans, in a depth of 238-458 m.=130-250 

 fths. ; and the two specimens with the incrusting Gellius also in the Andamans, 

 one within this group of islands in a depth of 238-458 m.=130-250 fths., the 

 other farther to the west in a depth of 435-530 m.=238-290 fths. 



LoPHOPHYSEMA F. E. Schulze. ^ 



LopJiophysema inflatum F. E. Sch. 

 Plate XX, XXI. 



1900 Lophophysema inflatum F. E. Sch. in Abh. Prensa. Ak. 1900 pp. 19-23, Taf. IV, V. 



The sponge now to be described, although nearly allied to Hyalonema in 

 spiculation, differs in shape and structure to such an extent from all known 

 Hyalonematidx that I find it necessary to establish a new genus for its reception. 

 This I name Lophophysema (Xoifos tuft, (pvcrrjua swelling). 



There is only a single, somewhat injured specimen of this species in the 

 " Investigator " collection. Of the root-tuft there is but little left. The body 

 is so soft and tender that it collapsed on being removed from the strong s.pirit in 

 which it was preserved, and then formed a shapeless mass, filling a soup-plate. 

 To ascertain its natural shape I carefully placed it in a large vessel filled with 

 very weak alcohol. Here the sponge, saturated with the lighter strong spirit, 

 at first swam, extending horizontally on the surface. As the weak alcohol began 

 to diffuse through the sponge, it became heavier and gradually commenced to 

 sink, the lower end, weighted with the heavy basalia-spicules in front, thus being 

 directed downward. The loose upper part was for sorae time supported near 

 the surface by an accidentally enclosed air-bubble. In this position the sponge 

 was drawn in natural size by Mr. Krohse, aii artist well versed in this kind of 

 work. This drawing is reprod',;'}cJ, induced to two-thirds, on plate XX. 



