320 IVILSO.y. [Vol. IX. 



II. Adult Structure and Gemmule Development of 

 Tedania Brucei, n. sp. 



I. Adult. 



Diagnosis. — Tedania Brucei, n. sp. Sponge body large, 

 usually massive, though sometimes forming flat incrustations. 

 Color red, and body firm and fleshy. Surface marked with 

 shallow meandering furrows and low intervening ridges, the 

 tissue of the ridges being firm, that of the furrows gelatinous 

 and containing large canals. The dermal membrane contains 

 microscleres (o.xeas), and is perforated by numerous large 

 rounded pores, both over the furrows and ridges, opening into 

 subdermal cavities. Oscula usually large and conspicuous and 

 often at the end of oscular papillae. The main efferent canals 

 surrounded by a large amount of gelatinous tissue ; the body 

 of the sponge is thereby broken up into an interlacing network 

 of gelatinous and dense tracts. Flagellated chambers found 

 only in the latter. Flagellated chambers open directly into 

 afferent and efferent canals. The spicules include slightly 

 curved strongyloxeas (Sollas) -^-^^ to ^^^ mm. in length, tylotes 

 with sharply nicked heads of same length, and very slender 

 oxeas varying in length from ^Yiy '^"^- ^o microscleres of 

 ^|-jj mm. and less. Skeleton of dense regions of sponge con- 

 sists of a close and confused meshwork of strongyloxeas ; a few 

 bundles composed of tylotes and oxeas, crossing the meshwork ; 

 and brushes of tylotes supporting the dermal membrane, which 

 in gelatinous regions give place to bundles of tylotes following 

 curves of subdermal cavities. Gelatinous tracts contain scat- 

 tered tylotes and oxeas, the latter from -f^^ mm. to micros- 

 cleres. Microscleres especially abundant round larger canals, 

 often radially arranged. — Green Turtle Cay, Balianias. 



This very handsome sponge is abundant in the quiet waters 

 of the "sounds" or deep bays which run into the island. It is 

 especially found on the roots of the mangrove, which grows 

 luxuriantly round the borders of the sounds, though it may 

 also be found on the bottom, where it is apt to become incrust- 

 ing. Its large size, often ten inches in diameter, and bright 



