302 L. E. CRAWSHAY. 



In the three others a few quadriradiates of the same ray-form and size 

 are present, in which the fourth ray is rather smaller but not much 

 shorter than the basal rays. These quadriradiates are so scarce that 

 they might easily escape observation. 



Under his " Connexive Varietiiten " of Ascetta primordialis, and later 

 in the text, Haeckel (14) mentions the existence of this variety with a 

 tendency to form a gastral ray as Ascaltis primordialis, though he gives 

 no data concerning its occurrence. In the present case it may be note- 

 worthy that the three specimens possessing quadriradiates were ob- 

 tained from depths between 42 and 44 fathoms, while those without 

 them were from between 47 and 50 fathoms. 



Excepting specimens recorded by Hanitsch (15) from the Liverpool 

 District which he subsequently referred (16) to G, lacunosa, the species 

 does not seem to have been recorded north of the Mediterranean. 



Clathrina lacunosa (Johnston). 



At Position 34, one, on shell of Ficsus, growing beside C. primordialis, 



Length 6 mm. 

 „ 47, one, on Scrupoccllaria ,, 5 „ 



„ 62, one, on Sertularclla „ 7 „ 



Depth, 42-50 fath. 



Clathrina contorta (Bowerbank), Minchin (28). 



A small patch of spicules undoubtedly belonging to this species was 

 found attached to a surface section of a Rcnicra from Position 58, on 

 or in close proximity to which the specimen would seem to have 

 been growing. 



A single quadriradiate spicule, apparently also of this species, occurs 

 similarly on a section of Raspailia stuposa from Position 67. 



Depth, 49-52 fath. 



Though it may appear somewhat hazardous to record the occurrence 

 of this species on the evidence of a few spicules, and in the second 

 case, of a single spicule, I have no doubt, after examining a specimen 

 of contorta which Prof. Minchin kindly gave me, concerning the identity 

 of the first record, and little doubt as to the second. In the former 

 case, both of two marked features of contorta are very distinct, namely, 

 the very high proportion of quadriradiates, and, — more important, — 

 the long and slender gastral ray of these. In the latter case, the single 

 quadriradiate spicule is of the same form. Monaxons are absent from 

 the fragment from Position 58, a condition which Minchin regards 

 (28, p. 14) as a juvenile feature. It is of interest to note that the two 

 positions lie close to one another, that is, as nearly as the reckoning 

 fixes them, not more than about two miles apart. 



