E. MARSHALL!. — TKABECULJE. 155 



syncytium having especially concentrated granulation or being 

 otherwise exceptionally modified. 



3) Larger cells, likewise considered to be situated in the 

 hyaline connective-tissue matrix and distinguished by a more or 

 less abundant accumulation of refractive, intensely stained granules 

 of various sizes. These granules were occasionally of a 

 brownish or yellowish color. They have ))een compared, quite 

 justly I think, to fat or starch in the physiological sense. I 

 believe that this kind of cells are of very general occurrence in 

 the Hexactinellida, and 1 take it to be analogous, and in all 

 probabilitj'' homologous too, to the thesocytes (Sollas) of non- 

 Hexactinellids. (See anon under Thesocytes). 



Let us now compare the above with the results arrived at 

 by the same investigator in the case of Schaudinnia arctica 

 ('99 c> PP- ^06-200 ; 19'a, p. 98) and connect therewith such 

 remarks as may seem conducive to a clear understanding of the 

 matter. In that species, the nuclei or cells distinguished by 

 ScHULZE in the trabecuhe are essentially the following two : 



Firstly: cells containing a mass of peculiar spherules and 

 conglomerates (' Knollen ') around the nucleus, and which are 

 numerously present on the dermal and the gastral membrane, on 

 the thicker subdermal and subgastral trabeculas, and around as 

 well as between the apopylar openings of the chambers. On 

 account of the bulky contents, they project more or less over the 

 surface of the said parts in a hump-like manner. These cells 

 arc taken by F. E. Schulze for pinacocytes. However, from the 

 nature of the 'Knollen' described ('99a, \). 207), it is exceed- 

 ingly probable, and indeed scarcely to be doubted, that we have 

 here to do with the thesocytes above referred to under (3), — 

 cells, which, unless I am greately mistaken in my homologization. 



