70 LAWEENCR M. LAMBE ON SOME 



ESPERIOPSIS LAXA. (Sp. nov.) 

 (Plate III, fig\ 10 aud Plate V, figs. 13, 13a, 13b, 13c). 



Sponge (Plate III, iig. 10) ramose, brauchiug aud anastomosing in an irregular 

 manner. The branches subcyliudrical, tubular, spreading and often becoming palmate, 

 digitate or obscurely lobate at their outer extremities. Represented in the collection by 

 three specimens and a few Iragmeuts. Height of the specimen ligured about 120 mm., 

 average diameter of the branches 10 mm. Colour when dry, light brownish-yellow. 

 Texture firm, unyielding. Surface rough to the touch. Oscula in the foim of a circular 

 opening occupying the extremity of each branch or of each lobe when the branch be- 

 comes lobate, palmate or digitate. Average diameter 3 mm. Examined Avhen in the dry 

 state. 



Skeleton. — Composed of bands of outwardly ascending spiculo-fibre crossed at right 

 angles and in an irregular manner by secondary fibres, forming an irregular reticulation 

 (Plate V, fig. 13.) There is no special dermal skeleton. Each osculum is the outer 

 termination of a canal, with an average diameter of 3 mm., which occupies the centre 

 of each branch. 



Spicules. — (aj Megnsclera; of one kind only. Short, stout, slightly curved, smooth 

 styli with moderately sharp points (Plate V, fig. 13a). Average size 0222 by 0013 mm. 

 (b) Microsclera. Palmate isochelee with an average length of 026 mm. (Plate V, figs. 

 13b, 13c). 



Locali/ij. — Oyster Bay, Vancouver Island, in twenty fathoms. 



Myxilla lacunosa. (Sp. nov.) 



(Plate III, fig. 3 and Plate V, figs. 5, ôa— g.) 



Sponge massive, sessile, subglobular. The only specimen representing this species 

 has a length of 33 mm., a breadth of 29 mm., and an average thickness of 1*7 mm. Colour 

 when dry, light yellow. Texture hard, firm, rather brittle. Surface rough, uneven. 

 Oscula numerous, confined to the upper aud lateral portions of the sponge, irregular in 

 shape and with their inner surfaces hispid. (Plate III, fig. 3). 



Skeleton. — An irregular reticulation of loose spiculo-fibre with no special dermal 

 arrangement of the spicules (Plate V, fig. 5). There are tornote spicules scattered 

 throughout which are most abundant in the dermal part of the skeleton. 



Spicules. — (a) Megasclera: of two kinds. (1) Stout, smooth styli with moderately 

 sharp points which are slightly but rather abruptly bent near the rounded end ; length 

 varying from 0-229 to 0170 mm. with a thickness of 0013 to 0-006 mm. (Plate V, fig. 

 .5a) ; (2) toi note spicules, hastately pointed, of the same thickness throughout their length ; 

 average size 0-170 by 0008 mm. (Plate V, fig 5b). (l>) Microsclera ; (1) Small, triden- 

 tate isochclse, with slightly curved shaft ; length averaging 0039 mm. (Plate V, figs. 

 5c, 5d). (2) Sigmata, simple and contort, very abundant ; length about 0019 (Plate Y, 

 figs. 5e, 5f, 5g). 



Locality. — West coast ol Vancouver Island, north of Quatsino Sound, in thirty to fifty 

 fathoms. 



