Sponges from the Atlantic Ocean. 391 



In Microciona, however, the arrangement of the latter is for 

 the most part scopiform, or in vertical bundles (hence Schmidt's 

 name ^^ Scopalina'''') ', while here there is a distinct layer 

 formed by the curved spinous spicules, out of which the 

 acuates project separately and directly upwards like hairs on 

 the surface of the body. The equianchorate is like that of 

 Microciona ; and most probably both it and Hymeraphia will 

 hereafter be shown to be intimately allied. 



Since this was written, Mr. T. Higgin has sent me a 

 specimen of a like sponge, which he found on a piece of old 

 stony coi'al from Grenada, in the West Indies. It is lamini- 

 form, extremely thin, and consists of a layer of spiniferous 

 spicules, out of which project a number of smooth long acuates 

 hirsutely. But the bedding spined spicules are quadriradiate^ 

 somewhat like in form to those of Dercitus niger ; and I could 

 detect no kind of flesh-spicule. 



Suherites massa, Sdt. (Spong. Adriat. Meeres, p. 67, 

 Taf. vii. fig. 2). 



Two fragments of this sponge were dredged up at station 65 

 in 345 fathoms. They consist of small round branches about 

 2 inches long, which are again branched irregularly and more 

 or less coalescent. Indeed they look as if they had been torn 

 off from some larger coalescent mass of vertical branches of 

 the same nature. The colour is light yellow, the surface 

 villous, the structure compact, and the spicule of one kind 

 only, viz. pin-like, with smooth, fusiform, pointed shaft and 

 more or less oval head. 



The tendency of this sponge is evidently to coalesce, so 

 that, in its lower or older part, it becomes massive, as seen 

 in the specimen illustrated by Schmidt, where the tops of 

 the branches only remain free. A similar specimen exists 

 in the British Museum, where it is even more consoli- 

 dated — and another where the branches have remained more 

 separate and terminate in flattened digitate or serrate margins 

 respectively, like toes on the human foot. These came from 

 the coast of Portugal. I have also a specimen of the kind 

 from the Mauritius, sent to me by Dr. Dickie, of a pinkish 

 yellow colour. 



Another in the British-Museum collection was dredged up 

 by Sir J. Ross in 74^° south latitude, depth 206 fathoms ; but 

 it is of a leaden grey colour, and possessing a pin-like spicule, 

 in which the head is for the most part spherical and much 

 larger than any other part of the spicule, I have proposed for 

 this (in MS.) the name of " Suherites antarcticay In its sur- 



