,-, "ENDEAVOUK" SCIENTIFIC KESULTS. 



slif^lif cxienf flie inner, usually raised inlo fetv or many 

 tnaitiniifonn, or more or less irregular elevatiotis. Oscrda 

 small, confined to the inner surface (fide Leiidenfeld). 

 Skeleton-fibres stout; both main atid connecting, almost 

 4'ntirely composed of closely-packed oxeote spicules. 

 Spicules: — (/.) Someivhaf angulately curved oxea of very 

 variable proportions, usually with the extreniities some- 

 7vhaf blunted, and often slightly monilated ; their greatest 

 size varies in different specimens from 411) x ij /< to 620 x 

 iS f( : (//.) sub-cylindrical acanthosiyles with distal ex- 

 tremity stnnigylotely rounded; spines more or less com- 

 pressed transversely to the loigth of the spicule, and re- 

 curved ; at both extremities of the spicule the spiiies are 

 smaller and more crowded ; the maximu)}t size of the spi- 

 cule varies in different specimens from 10^ x 10 jt to ijo x 

 72.5 ji ; (iiiy) slender styli of variable diameter up to 

 about 5 )i which are possibly you)ig stages of the jlrst- 

 mentioned . 



The previous accounts of this species are so misleading in 

 regard to the dimensions of the spicules that a re-description 

 which will render further reference to them unnecessary, is 

 desirable. Owing, however, to the imperfect preservation of 

 the available specimens — six in number, all dry, and more or 

 less macerated — an entirely satisfactory description is not at 

 present possible. With regard to external features, the 

 original description of Kalykenteron elegans, says: — "A very 

 elegant, conical, cup-shaped sponge attaining a height of 220 

 mm. 'i'he margin of the cup is circular and has a diameter of 

 120 mm. Both surfaces are very irregular and covered with 

 numerous projections of varying size and shape. The outer 

 surface is somewhat rougher than the inner. The small cir- 

 cular oscula are confined to the latter." Concerning Kaly- 

 ketiteron silex, Lendenfeld states: — "The sponge consists of 

 a meandriform lamella which grows up from a small base of 

 attachment; it is somewhat flower-shaped, often caliculate. 

 The whole sponge attains a height of 120 mm. The lamella 

 is prettv uniformly 6 mm. thick and rounded at the margin." 



The specimens before me, with the exception of that labelled 

 Kalykenteron silex (type), range in form from conical cup- 

 shaped to shallow saucer-shaped, and are attached by a nar- 

 row base not prolonged into a stalk. The largest example is 

 the tvpe-specimen (Plate xxiii., hg. i) which measures 225 mm. 

 in height, and has the cup wall 6 to 10 mm. in thickness. It 

 is now much compressed, but this is probably due to artificial 

 intf uences ; in the others, the cup-margin is circular. I he type 

 specimen agrees with one other, in ha\ ing tlie outer surface 



