13^ 



•ENDEAVOUR" SCIENTIFIC RESULTri. 



Genus Paracordvla, gen. nov. 

 The inner skeleton is a dense columnar aggregation of 

 large oxea which, in linear outgrowths of the sponge- 

 body {if these be present), takes the form of a very com- 

 pact axial core. Spongin appears to be wholly absoit. 

 The ectosomal skeleton is a dense palisade of vertical 

 microxea supplemented by ''dermal brushes" of styli or 

 oxea. Between the ectosomal layer and the iruier 

 skeleton-mass is a narrow zone penetrated by canals and 

 crossed by strands of the large oxea. In addition to 

 microxea, niicroscleres in the form of small amphiasters 

 are present. 

 The spiculation of this genus is remarkably similar to that 

 of Scolopcs moselcyi, Sollas ;i but since Sollas speaks of fibres 

 in connection with his species, and remarks that the 

 general character of its skeleton reminds one forcibly of that 

 in Carter's genus Trachya, there is evidently a distinct generic 

 difference between Paracordyla and Scolopes. Amongst the 

 Axinellida\ the genus which makes the nearest approach to 

 Paracordyla, appears to be Ceratopsis, Thielc^ 



Paracordvla ligxea, sp. nor. 

 (Plate xxii., fig. 2, and figs. -'6, jj.) 

 Sp<))igt' sessile, with a massive body from which 

 branch-like elongations tnay arise. Consistency, owi'i)g 

 to the enormou-s developmetit of the spicules, very dense 

 and solid. Surface even, pilose. Oscula wanting. The 

 skeleton of the whole of the inner mass of the spoiige to 

 within a few millimetres of the surface is formed of closely 

 aggregated large oxea, with a general parallel arrange- 

 ment, which, in the branch-like parts, form an almost 

 solid core. Between the core and the superficial layer 

 (cortex) is a \uirro%v zone, 2 to _? )nm. wide, crossed by 

 strands of similar oxea, the outer spicules of ivhich pro- 

 ject well beyoitd the surface. The surface is also pro- 

 lecled /)V brushes of shorter spicules varying in form fron: 

 stvli to oxea. 'J'he catutls of flie subcortical ■zo)ie are 

 surrounded by radially disposed microxea, and similar 

 spicules, together with mi^iute amphiasters, are scattered 

 through the ground substance. Megascleres : — (/. ) Oxea 

 of the main skeleton reaching a size of J200 x ^=;o /( ; (ii.) 

 styli and asymmetrical oxea of the dermal Inrushes vary- 

 i}ig in le)igth from less than 200 to about "^ix) ]i, wifJi 



spicules of the fibres are substrong'yla) there are in addition scattered 

 small oxea. If in Svirasiama aculento the fibre-formins strongyla dis- 

 appeared, the species would, without doubt, owing to the mode of dis- 

 tribution of its smaller oxea, he classed as a Geliiux. 



1 Sollas— "Challenger" Tetraxonida, 1885, p. 432, pi. xliii., figs. 1-9. 



2 Thiele— Studien uber pazifische spongien, Zoologica, Heft 24, 1898. p. 56. 



