H. B. KiKK. — 0)1 Neio Zealand Sponges. 179 



mesoderm, the apical rays of the 4-racliates projecting into 

 the gastral cavity. Broader ends of oxeotes embedded in the 

 mesoderm ; narrower ends projecting outwards and upwards. 



Spicules. 



Triradiates : Sagittal, but the three angles about equal ; 

 basal ray long and gradually sharp-pointed ; 0-lmm. x 0-005 ; 

 oral rays slightly curved away from one another, gradually 

 sharp-pointed, 0-07mm. long. 



Quadriradiates : About same size as 3-radiates, apical ray 

 shorter than the others, gradually sharp -pointed, curving 

 slightly upwards. 



Oxeotes : Irregularly fusiform, sharply pointed at both 

 ends, broiider at one end than at the other, usually bent sud- 

 denly at a slight angle near the broader end, often slightly 

 and irregularly curved, tapering gradually to a fine point at the 

 narrow end, but with a very slight annular swelling at a short 

 distance below the apex. They measure up to 0'16mm. in 

 length by 0-005mm. in diameter at the broadest part. 



See " Monograph of the Victorian Sponges," page 45, and 

 plates. 



A single colony, part of which is figured at PI. XXII., 

 fig. 2a, from Cook Strait, is in my opinion identical with Dr. 

 Dendy's sponge. It shows, however, some slight differences. 

 The bent form of the oxeotes is more frequent and pronounced 

 than in a specimen of L. lucasi that Dr. Dendy has kindly 

 sent me from St. Vincent's Gully, and the oral rays of the 

 3-radiates are often turned slightly towards instead of away 

 from each other. The annular swelling near the apex of the 

 oxeotes is not always present. 



EXPLANATION OP PLATE XXII. 



Pig. la. Leucosolenin echinata x 3. 



Pig. 1&. „ a portion of an ascon person magnified to 



scale. 



Pig. Ic. „ 4-radiate spicules. 



Fig. Id. „ 3-radiate spicules. 



Fig. Ic. „ oxeote spicules. 



Fig. 1/. „ cross-section showing arrangement of spi- 



cules. Many of the oxeotes are cut 

 across, and appear shortened. 



Pig. 2a. Leucosolenla lucasi x 8. 



Fig. 26. „ a portion magnified to same scale as lb. 



Pig. 2c. „ 4-radiate spicules. 



Pig. 2d, „ 3-radiate spicules. 



Fig. 2e. „ oxeote spicules. 



Fig. 2/. „ cross-section showing arrangement of spicules. 



Drawn to same scale as 1/. 



J'A 



Ji/^m W^ 



