THE FAMILY ASTROEHIZID^ 117 



Genus PihrJina, Caepentee. 



Test nearly spherical ; aperture a long and more 

 or less curved or sigmoid slit. Becent. 



Example. — P. Jejfri'ystl, Carpenter, ' The Micro- 

 scope,' 5th ed. 1875, p. 532, figs, d^ e. 



This is the only species of the above genus, and 

 until lately examples \Yere only known from the 

 ' Porcupine ' dredgings, from the N. Atlantic, at 

 630-1,476 fathoms.' It has again been recorded 

 quite lately by Flint from the N. Atlantic (' Albatross ' 

 Collection). Becent. (Plate 5, fig. F.) 



Genus TechnitelJa, Noeman. 



Test oval or subcylindrical ; aperture, typically, 

 a rounded orifice at one end. Becent. 



Example. — T. leguvieii, Norman, ' Ann. and Mag. 

 Nat. Hist.' ser. 5, vol. i. 1878, p. 279, pi. xvi. figs. 

 3, 4. 



A variable species, but distinguished by its elon- 

 gate-oval form. It is sometimes quite encrusted 

 with mud, but on removing this the characteristic 

 spicular test is seen beneath. The range in depth of 

 this form is very great — from 60to 2,350 fathoms — and 

 it is found in almost every part of the w^orld, though 

 never very common in any sounding. Becent. 

 (Plate 5, fig. G.) 



Genus Bluiphicloscene^ Vaughan Jennings. 



Test conical or tent-shaped, composed of sponge 

 spicules ; adherent. Aperture probably at the apex. 

 Becejit. 



