87 



2. near the Andamans, on the root-tuft of Pheronema raphanus F. E. Sch., in a 

 depth of 315 m.=172 fths ; 3. near the Andamans 12° 3?" N. 92° 19' E. on the 

 root-tuft of Pheronema raphanus F. E. Sch. ; 4. Southwest of Cape Comorin T 

 17' 30" N. 76' 54' 30" E. in a depth of 787 m.=430 fths. The latter probably 

 belongs to Farrea occa. 



MELITTIONIDAE. 



Tubular or caliculate sponges with lateral diverticula. The dictyonal net 

 has hexagonal meshes and is regular, honeycomb-like. Scopules are present. 



Aphrocallistes, J. E. Gray. 



The dermalia are hexactines with a pinule-like distal ray. The microsclere 

 parenchymalia are oxyhexasters. 



Whilst Aphrocallistes, the only recent genus of the family MeliUionidae, is 

 very clearly distinguished from all other Hexactinellid genera now living by the 

 hexagonal structure of its dictyonal network, we find that the species belonging 

 to it are not at all well defined. They vary considerably and their distinction 

 and definition is very difficult. 



Aphrocallistes beatrix J. E. Gray. 

 Plate XV, figs. 1-13 



1858 Aphrocallistes leatrix i'. E. Gray ia Proc. Zool. Sue. London. 1858 p. 114. 



1887 F. E. Schulze. Challenger Hexactinellida pp. 311-313 pi. LXXXIV, f. 9, 10 



1895 F. E. Schul7,e in Abh. FreusB. Ak. 1895 pp. 68-76 Taf. VI f. 1-13. 



1900 F. E. Schulze la Abh. Prensa. Ak. 1900 pp. 38-39. 



Among the Approcullistes- specimens brought home by the "Investigator" 

 there are six, all from the .same locality. Station 9, to the west of the Andamans 

 which so closely agree in shape, structure and size with the specimen from 

 Malacca, described by Gra,y * in 1858 as Aphrocallistes beatrix, the type of the 

 genus, that there can be little doubt about their belonging to this species, although 

 no exact description of iche spicules is contained in Gray's diagnosis. 



These " Investiga'tor " specimens are, like Gray's type specimen, slender, 

 erect, inversely conical and 4-6 cm. high. At the upper end there is a rather 

 "irregular, round oscinlar aperture, 1 cm. in diameter, covered with a sieve-plate. 

 From the sides of 'the body numerous beehive-shaped or hemispherical diverti- 



^ * Proc. Zool. Soc, London, 1858, p. Hi. 



I 

 I 



