the ^Challenger'' Monaxonida. 339 



Esperella nuda, n. sp. 



Incrusting- (?). Pale yellow. Soft, minutely hispid , Der- 

 mal membrane thin and transparent ; pores in groups, groups 

 scattered. Spicules : — (1) spinulate, with small head, abruptly 

 sharp-pointed, size "245 by '016 millim. ; (2) palmate inequi- 

 anchorates, with long narrow palm at large end, length •025 

 millim. ; (3) simple and contort bihamates, size '12 by '0063 

 millim. 



Locality. OiF Bahia, shallow water. 



Esperella fusca^ n. sp. 



Sublobose, rounded. Dark greyish brown. Soft, resilient. 

 Vents few, with slightly tubular margins. Pores scattered. 

 Spicules : — (1) spinulate, with distinct oval head and usually 

 much blunted apex, size "455 by '0126 millim.; (2) palmate 

 inequianchorates, length up to '063 millim. ; (3) slender, 

 usually much contort bihamates, length '044 millim. ; (4) 

 small compact oblong trichite bundles, size '0315 by '0063 

 millim. 



Locality. Off Bahia, 1 7 fath. 



Esjyerella arenicola, n. sp. 



Massive, flat, cake-like (largest measuring 7 by 3^ by f 

 inch). Light brown. Brittle, extremely sandy. Dermal 

 membrane thin and transparent. Vents small and scattered. 

 Skeleton very loose. Spicules : — (1) long and very slender 

 spinulate, with distinct head and sharp point, size "4 by "0072 

 millim. ; (2) small, slender, palmate inequianchorates, '028 

 millim. long; (3) simple and contort bihamates, size "077 by 

 •0048 millim. ; (4) large trichite bundles, size "35 by '07 

 millim. 



Locality. Station 162, Bass Strait, 38 fath. 



Esperella simonis, n. sp. 



Ramose, cylindrical, or more or less massive. Fibrous, 

 elastic. Minutely hispid. Pores scattered. Spicules: — (1) 

 spinulate, with small heads, sharply and gradually pointed ; 

 size '4 by '0145 millim. ; (2) large palmate inequianchorates, 

 •072 millim. long, with palm -036 millim. wide, the small 

 ends abruptly truncated, and often attached to the spicule - 

 fibre; (3) large, stout, contort bihamate^ size ^24 by -019 

 millim.; (4) smooth tricurvates, size '145 by "003 millim. 



Locality. Simon's Bay, Cape of Good Hope, 10-20 fath. 



