36 
fibres are present and the spicules around these are joined together 
by „keratode” in  quadrangular groups as is characteristie for the 
genus Reniera; but here the substance that holds the spieules to- 
gether is much stronger. 
It is very remarkable that in the pedicel no oscules or pores are 
to be seen. The Sponge is not sufficiently preserved that I could 
ascertain this by very thin slices. But when it is true the ques- 
tion arises how this part is fed. Merejkowsky has made curious 
observations on this point. As in his Esperia stolonifera the young 
buds are fed by means of a kind’ of conduction through the cells, 
so one can suppose this to be the case here. Metschnikoffs resear- 
ches on the mode of nourishment in Sponges *) show that small 
particles of food can be transported by cells. I have repeated some 
of his experiments and arrived at the same result. 
16. Cribrochalina variabilis n. sp. |Pl. I, figg. 16 and 17; 
pl. III, figg. 67—69]. 
Diagn-. Corpus infundibuliforme; basis per caule longiore vel bre- 
viore lapidibus haerens. Spicula indicantia tr. ac., (longitu- 
dine variante). 
Loc. Barents-Sea; Matosjkin-Shar. 
Depth. 220 Fathoms. NB. 
Special description. 
Several specimens of this fine Sponge were brought home, two 
varieties of which I have represented on Plate I. Although there 
is rather a great difference between them, as regards the external 
characters, the spicules show such a strong resemblance, that they 
must be united into one species. 
16a. Cribrochalina variabılis var. crassa [Pl. I, fig. 16; pl. IV, fig. 145.] 
From an almost cylindrical, wrinkled stem arises the funnel- 
shaped sponge-body. On the external surface of the upper part 
*) Metschnikoff in Zeitschr. wiss. Zool. XXXII. pag. 371. 
