396 Mr. H, J. Carter on Deei)-sea 



resting on the radiating structure of the centre (see section of 

 Cometella pyrula, PI. XIV. fig. 20, d). Stem internally con- 

 sisting of large spicules applied longitudinally to each other 

 successively as they are held together by sarcode, and finally 

 covered by a denser dermal sheath, pierced perpendicularly by 

 smaller spicules. Spicules of three forms, viz. acuate, sub- 

 pinlike, and pinlike or dermal, all smooth, nearly straight, 

 fusiform, and attenuatingly pointed. The largest or acuate 

 has the large end rounded and a little less in diameter than 

 the shaft, 150- by |-1800th inch ; the smallest or dermxal is 

 pinlike, with globular terminal inflation, also a little less in 

 diameter than the shaft, 20- by |- 1800th inch ; and the sub- 

 pinlike of intermediate size between the two, with the termi- 

 nal inflation equally variable, as the globular head appears to 

 pass gradually into the simple, round, acuate or w??inflated end 

 of the large skeleton-spicule. The largest spicules are con- 

 fined to the stem and the bundles in the head, both of which 

 are faced by a layer of the pinlike dermal spicule, mixed 

 with the intermediate sub-pinlike ones, not only in the head 

 but throughout the stem. Size of specimen (for there is only 

 one) yV inch long in totality, of which -fV belong to the head. 



Hob. Marine, growing erect, fixed in a sandy bottom by 

 the root-like fibres above mentioned. 



Loc. Probably the " chops " of the English Channel in about 

 500 fathoms. 



Ohs. Although there is no number on the jar containing 

 this specimen, its concomitants seem to indicate the locality 

 just mentioned. By a comparison with the foregoing species, 

 viz. Polymastia stipitata, the points of difference will be 

 obvious, although the structure of the head together with the 

 forms and disposition of the spicules respectively closely allies 

 it to the Polymastina. The specimen is very small ; and there- 

 fore its fully developed form may be somewhat different, as in 

 the last species. Being like Schmidt's genus Cometella in 

 figure and constitution, I have given it his generic name, with 

 the specific designation of " simijlex^'' as it contains no flesh- 

 spicule like that of C. stellata, Sdt. 



Podospongia Lovenii and Latrunculia cratera^ Boc. 



Specimens of these two sponges, so well described and illus- 

 trated by Bocage (Journ. d. Sc. Math. Phys. et Naturelles, 

 no. iv. Lisbonne, 1869), were dredged up between the north of 

 Scotland and the Faroe Islands, and the former also at two 

 or three other stations between this and the coast of Portugal. 

 Between Scotland and the Faroe Islands, the former came 



