230 Mr. H. J. Carter on Deep-sea 



Tnadder-recl. Surface rising into thorn-like processes, from 

 each of which projects a single hair-like horny filament about 

 ^ inch in length, of a dark amber-colour, that often sends off 

 a minor branch at its exit, and thus becomes bifurcated. 

 Covered with an incrustation of minute foreign bodies, dis- 

 posed in a reticulate form with depressed interstices. Foreign 

 bodies consisting of a heterogeneous mixture of sand-grains, 

 fragments of sponge-spicules, minute Foraminifera, and the 

 like, which, on becoming dry, presents an opaque pinkish 

 grey colour that conceals the dark red fleshy portion of the 

 interior. Pores in the interstices of the incrustation (fig. 2, b) . 

 Vents not observed. Internal structure soft, fleshy, consisting 

 of a thin layer of compact areolar sarcode traversed perpen- 

 dicularly by thick, horny, hair-like filaments of a dark amber- 

 colour (fig. 2, a), which, rising singly and separately from an 

 expanded circular disk respectively on the basal layer of the 

 sponge (fig. 2, c), that attaches the latter to the hard object on 

 which it may be growing, pursue a perpendicular course 

 towards the surface, where they respectively issue from the 

 ends of the thorn-like processes, as before stated. Horny fila- 

 ment hollow, conical, ending in an attenuated form externally, 

 where it is frequently bifurcated or divided into two portions 

 of unequal length, as above mentioned. Sarcode charged with 

 minute bodies (? spongozoa or pigment-cells) of a red colour, 

 which thus give the characteristic colour to the sponge gene- 

 rally in the fresh or undried state. Size of specimens about 

 f inch in their longest horizontal diameter. 



Hab. Marine, growing over hard objects. 



Log. Between the north of Scotland and the Faroe Islands, 

 and a little north-west of the Shetlands, in 345 and 312 fathoms 

 respectively. 



Obs. For an account of the Aplysinida see 'Annals,' 1872, 

 vol, X. p. 101. Specimens of this sponge exist in two jars 

 numbered (Stations) 65 and 82 respectively, which give the 

 localities and depths above mentioned. The former has spread 

 itself over part of the upper valve of a Terebratule (fig, 1, c), 

 and the latter round a fragment of a branch of stony coral 

 (fig. 2). It has been designated " ncevus " specifically, from 

 the surface being like a raised red " mother's-mark," hairy 

 and papillated ; while the interior is characterized by single, 

 separated horny filaments, which traverse the interior of the 

 sponge perpendicularly, and do not give off any branches 

 until arriving at their point of issue from the summits respec- 

 tively of the thorn-like processes of the surface, when they 

 frequently, but not always, become divided into two branches 

 of unequal length. The reticulated appearance of the incrus- 



