Sponges from the Atlantic Ocean. 249 



without any bend), and even longer than the skeleton-spicule 

 of the species ; while throughout it was enclosed by a delicate 

 nucleated mother-cell, shaped like a bolster. 



The mounted specimen of Suberites arciger which Schmidt 

 sent to the British Museum, besides the tricurvate, presents 

 the true pin-like skeleton-spicule of a Suberite. 



In Halichondria forcipis both the skeleton-spicules and 

 equianchorates are very much allied, in general form, to those 

 of Halichondria incrustans ; but in ])lace of the bihamate 

 of the latter we have the forcipiform tricurvate in the former, 

 while the " crumb-of-bread "-like appearance of the structure, 

 in the general form, is very much like that of Halichondria 

 incr-ustans, which used to be designated " //. panicea.'''' 



Cliona ahyssorunij n. sp. PI. XIV. fig. 33, and 

 PhXV.fig.45,a,&,c. 



Sponge retiform, permeating the branches of Lophohelia 

 prolifera, and appearing here and there in small heads through 

 corresponding holes in this coral. Pores and vents respec- 

 tively in these heads. Internal structure areolar, charged 

 with the spicules of tlie species, and permeated by the excre- 

 tory system, which is more areolar than tubular. Spicules of 

 two kinds, viz. skeleton- and flesh-spicules. Skeleton-spicules 

 of tAvo forms, viz. : — 1st, the largest, smooth, pin-like, fusiform, 

 curved, fine-pointed, chiefly confined to the " heads," average 

 largest size 57 by f-1800th inch in its greatest diameters, 

 head oval and as wide as the shaft (PL XV. fig. 45, a) j 2nd, 

 the small skeleton-spicule, smooth, curved, fusiform, acerate, 

 fine-pointed, chiefly confined to the body, average largest size 

 25 by f-1800th inch in its greatest diameters (fig. 45, h). 

 Flesh-spicule of one form only (fig. 45, c), smootli, spiral, 

 sinuous, straiglit, abruptly terminated at each end, and pre- 

 senting four bends on each side in its course, densely charging 

 the sarcode throughout ; average largest size 20 by l-GOOOth 

 inch in its greatest diameters. Size of entire specimen unde- 

 tinable from its fungus-like permeating growtli. 



Hah. Deep sea, permeating the branches of Lophohelia 

 prolifera. 



Loc. Atlantic Ocean, " chops " of English Channel. 



Ohs. The specimen of Lophohelia proh'fera in which this 

 sponge was found is partly enveloped in Corticium ahyssi, 

 which having already been figured and described in the 

 'Annals ' of 1873 (vol. xii. p. 17, pi. i. figs. 1 & 2), I must 

 refer the reader to that for all particidars concerning this part 

 of its liistory, merely observing that it was dredged up from a 



