322 L. K. CRAWSHAY. 



The four examples which I assign to this species, though closely 

 allied to some specimens of the preceding species in general characters, 

 are distinct from them in certain details, and notably in the shape of 

 the acanthostyli, which with comparatively rare exceptions are much 

 longer, more slender, and more finely pointed. In external form, two 

 of the specimens rather closely resemble that of Eidley and Dendy's 

 figure of Dendropsis hidentifera (30); one, from Position 46, is of slender, 

 straggling, long-branched growth ; the fourth occupies an intermediate 

 position between these two forms. One is lightly, the others deeply 

 pigmented, with a rufous-brown colour in spirit. 



The main features of the spiculation are very similar to those 

 described for the preceding species, but the spicules of the axial column 

 are rather more irregularly disposed. The large styli are comparatively 

 stout. These range from 800 to 1600 ijl in length, with an average of 

 about 1100 ^ (higher or lower in different examples), and from 11 to 

 18 /x, with an average of about 16 ^i, in width. Stroivjyla are present 

 in specimens from 46 and 67 ; length, 450 to 1000 /^ (average about 

 650 fx)\ width, 16 to 22 fj. (average about 19 fx). Eound-ended styli 

 occur in the specimen from 49, but true strongyla were not observed 

 in this or the specimen from 77. Oxea occur in the specimen from 46 

 only; length 800 to 1100 ijl] width 15 fi. 



Very slender styli and oxea occur, scattered more or less numerously 

 through the column, and commonly in pairs or small groups, as in the 

 preceding species. There is some difficulty in distinguishing many of 

 these paired forms from what appear to be elements in process of 

 constructing the larger styli. 



Acanthostyli longer, more slender, and more sharply pointed than 

 in the preceding species. Length, 95 to 166 /x (average about 129 fj.). 

 Width, 4'5 to 6-5 /x (average 5 fj.). 



Acanthoxea occur in very small numbers, intermixed with the acantho- 

 styli, in specimens from 46 and 49, but I have been unable to find 

 them in the other two. The example from 49 is one of the two already 

 referred to as rather closely resembling Eidley and Dendy's figure of 

 Dendro2osis Udentifera. It is an interesting fact that this species is 

 especially characterized by the presence of small acanthoxea, and the 

 genus Dendropsis was founded to receive it. In the present case, how- 

 ever, I can only regard these spicules as abnormalities of the acantho- 

 styli, which vastly outnumber them. They are nearly always centro- 

 tylote, and in one instance observed the tylote expansion is elongate 

 with a distinct constriction in the centre of it. Length, 118 to 225 n 

 (average 187 yu). Width, not including expansion, 4-5 to 5-5 jj. (average 

 5 m). 



