316 Mr. H. J. Carter’s Contributions to our 
are tolerably perfect. Its dictyocylindrous form, generally 
compact solid structure, apparent want of vents and excretory 
canal-systems (probably from their smallness and contracted 
state in the dried specimen), are all indications of the order to 
which it belongs, while the spiculation in its character and 
arrangement so resembles that of Hctyon that, although gene- 
rically different, as the name implies, there can be no hesita- 
tion in placing it among the Kctyonida, as the spines of the 
spicules are merely disposed irregularly instead of being 
confined to a verticillate arrangement. It bears the number 
17. 2. 73. 6, and was presented to the Free Public Museum at 
Liverpool by Mr. C. P. Melly. 
Family 2. AXINELLIDA. 
Char. “ Echinated with proper spicules projecting from the 
interior of the fibre” (‘ Annals,’ /. c. p. 133). 
Such is the simple diagnosis which I have given for this 
in contradistinction to that of the first family of this order, 
wherein the echinating spicule (generally claviform) has its 
base inserted in the surface instead of the interior of the 
fibre; but in all probability it will have to be consider- 
ably extended ; for the group “ Multiformia” (op. et loc. cit. 
p- 145), which, like that of “ Pluriformia,” in the first family of 
the Echinonemata, was only intended to include provisionally 
a number of distinct genera that I then had before me, but 
which I knew time and opportunity alone could, by deserip- 
tion and illustration, make available for this purpose. It is 
this more extended sense which I now wish to initiate. 
The term “Axinellida,” which has been taken from that of 
“ Axinella,” used by Schmidt for a genus which he established 
in 1862 (Spong. adriat. Meeres, p. 60), was chiefly instituted 
by myself for sponges whose typical structure is perhaps best 
illustrated by that of Malichondria ventilabrum, Johnst.,= 
Phakellia ventilabrum, Bk. (Mon. B.S. 1874, vol. 1. pl. xxi), 
which is one of the “‘ key” or typical specimens of the family 
“¢ Axinellida’’ mentioned in my proposed classification of the 
Spongida (op. et loc. cit. p. 196); thus, if this sponge is 
divided with a sharp knife perpendicularly to the surface, the 
section will present the edge of a thin compact plane mesially 
(Pl. XIII. fig. 6, aa), from which on both sides, but espe- 
cially externally, emanate scopiform portions (fig. 6, 6066), 
which, curving upwards and outwards, become subdivided as 
they reach the surface, where their extremities are interunited 
by the dermal sarcode, which thus, tympanizing the spaces 
between them, keeps the whole together and affords a con- 
