some Irish S/wnr^PS. 2H5 



The species was dre(l<^('{l ut three stations off the south- 

 west coast of Ireland, at dej)tlis varying from 250 to 

 5tiO fathoms. 



Ei>periopsis incognita, sp. n. 



The sponge is growing in a very thin encrustation on 

 coral. 



The skeleton consists of short fibres made up of multi- 

 scrially arranged styli, which run obliquely through tiie 

 sponge from base to surface. In addition to these fibres there 

 are thick, well-defined, branching fibres running more or le.«3 

 parallel to the surface of the s|)onge. 



Spicules. — (1) iStyli, straight and slender, 0'-l-0'45 mm. 

 in length by 0-006-00().S mm. (2) Isochelce palmataj of 

 two forms — {a) straight isocheh'o with rather long, narrow 

 alaj leaving only a short part of the shaft free. Length 

 0"035-007 mm.; {h) very small, slender isochelse, with 

 slightly curved shaft, 0*013 mm, in length. (3) Sigmata of 

 two forms — (u) sigmata lying in one plane and varying a 

 good deal in size. The longer axis is from 0*l-0'32 mm. in 

 length. The maximum thickness of the spicule is about 

 0"013 mm. ; (h) slender, contort sigmata with a longer axis 

 of 0-04-0075 mm. 



This sponge is identical with the specimen referred to by 

 Carter as " an unknown sponge,^' and partly descriljed and 

 figured by him under that name (Journ. Roy. Micr. Soc. ii. 

 Ib79). 



The sponge was dredged oflf the west coast of Ireland in 

 388 fathoms. 



Esperiopsis macrosigma, sp. n. 



The sponge is growing in a very thin encrustation on 

 coral. 



The skeleton consists of bundles of spicules, or of short 

 fibres containing mnltiserially arranged spicules. In places 

 lunger, rather ill-defined fibres run more or less parallel to 

 the surface. There are also single spicules or groups of two 

 or three spicules scattered through tlie s[)onge. 



Spicules. — (1) iStyli slender, straight, tapering to a rather 

 short point. Length 0-37-0-42 mm. by 00(3-0-008 mm. 

 (2) IsochelsG palmatae of three forms — («) the largest are 

 0'11-0125 mm. in length, the shaft is straight and is about 

 0006 mm. in thickness. The tooth measures 024 mm. 

 across ; (6) isochelae with rather long narrow ala3 leaving 

 only a short part of the shaft free. Length 06 mm.; 



