48 R. KIRKPATRICK. 



Spicules. Megascleres. Oxeas, 537 X 22 '75 /A, sharp pointed, sub-tornote, a 

 few being distinctly tornote. 



Microscleres. Sigmata, very abundant both, in choanosome and ectosome, C-shaped, 

 39 x 16 ' 25 /A in length and breadth, and 1 5 p thick. 



There are two specimens. One of them is in the form of a triangular lamella 

 dividing into two sub-terete branches, the total length being 10 '5 cm., the breadth 

 3 ' 5 cm., and the thickness 1 cm. The second specimen is 1 1 cm. long and 3 cm. broad, 

 with little more than a notch at the upper edge, indicating a division into branches. 

 The- fleshy matter is nearly all macerated out, leaving a flexible skeletal framework. 

 In the first specimen the surface shows the little conules penetrated by spikes 2-3 

 spicules thick, with squarish concave depressions about '5 mm. between any four 

 conules. The dermal pores are imperceptible. There is a thin collenchymatous 

 ectosome about 1 5 mm. thick, excavated by shallow sub-dermal cavities ; the 

 eurypylous flagellated chambers are ovoid, 26 x 23 p.. The new species bears some 

 resemblance to Gellius flagellifer (E. and D.), but differs from it in the absence of 

 the peculiar flagellate sigmata. Further, G. flagellifer has an even surface, and 

 a dermal skeleton network of spiculo-fibre ; but in the new species the secondary 

 fibres, usually not more than one spicule thick, are often not present at or just 

 below the surface. 



Dredged near Winter Quarters, off Hut Point, 25-30 fms. ; and at No. 12 hole, 

 25-30 fms. 



GELLIUS CUCURBITIFORMIS. 



(Plate XVII., figs. 5, 5a-c, Plate XXIV., figs. 5a-b.) 

 1907. Gellim cucurbitiformis Kirkpatrick (lOa. p. 288). 



Sponge small, free, bulbous with fistular prolongations. Surface smooth, showing 

 under a lens a fine white reticulum. Colour in spirit, pale brown. Consistence, 

 rather soft. 



Skeleton. With a distinct dermal layer of irregularly arranged tangential oxeas. 

 Choanosomal skeleton a reticulum (with square or triangular meshes) of spiculo-fibre, 

 the strands 2-3 spicules thick, with a faint indication of main fibres radiating to 

 the surface. 



Spicules. Megascleres. Oxeas, 342 x 9'75/u., slightly curved, sub-tornote. 



Microscleres. Sigmata varying in size, the smallest being about 20 p long, 

 C-shaped and with uniform curve, and the largest 39 p, long, 19'8/x. broad and 

 1 2 p. thick. 



There are two small specimens, both of which were found in a tangled mass of 

 debris surrounding a worm-tube. The larger, the type specimen, consists of a basal 

 bulbous portion, 13 mm. long, 7 mm. broad, and 8 mm. high, from one side of which 

 arises a rather thick-walled fistula 13 mm. high and 5*5 mm. in diameter; at the 

 opposite side is a broken circular area, from which, in all probability, a second fistula 



