470 Mr. II. J. Carter oa the 



uniformity of spines, from Aphrocallides heatrix. Scale l-24th 

 to 1 -6000th of an inch. In gener.il, it is a very ragged-looking' 

 half- developed spicule. 

 Fir/. 11. Portion of tlie commencing vitrification of the skeleton in a 

 young Aphrocallides Boruf/ei, not more than two twelfths of an 

 inch in diameter, showing the enclosure of the sexradiate with 

 spined feather-like arm among the other spicules ; also the cha- 

 racteristic rosette : a a, spicules with feather-like anu ; b b, other 

 spicules ; c c, vitrified sarcode spreading over the same ; d, form 

 of rosette. Scale l-24th to 1 -6000th of an inch. 



N.B. This appears to be Schmidt's LaniKjinella pupa. It is 

 found growing on a branch of Lophohelia prulifvra close to a 

 living AphrocaUiates Bocagei, just as Schmidt has represented it 

 growing in abundance on AphrocalUstes Bocagei itself (Atlantisch. 

 Spongieuf. pi. ii. fig. 1). It can only be confounded with the 

 structure of Sympagella mix, Sdt., whose characteristic ladder- 

 like vitreous fibre and the pappiform rosette, however, point out 

 the distinction. 



Plate XVI. 



Deciduous vitrijied fibre. 



Fig. 1. AphrocaUisfes Bocagei. Fragment of dead specimen dredged up 

 from muddy bottom at the western entrance to the English 

 Channel, in 72o fathoms, by H.M.S. ' Porcupine,' showing that 

 the fibre is based on sexi-adiate spicules whose presence is 

 rendered evident, after the fibre has become deciduous, by a 

 process of absorption which, if not gone too far, leaves a perfect 

 mould of the imbedded spicule, a a, spiniferous vitreous fibre ; 

 b b, moulds of spicides ; c c, puncta indicating spines on the 

 surface of the fibre. 



This specimen, or the portions which were still filled with 

 mud ha'idiig been boUed in liquor potassse, yielded an abundance 

 of the rosette and scopuline spicule peculiar to Ajihrocallides 

 Bocagei. 



Fig. 2. Aphrocallides Bocagei. Fragment of dead specimen dredged up 

 from muddy bottom on the north-west coast of Spain, on board 

 the yacht ' Xorna ' (depth not mentioned), shoTviag an enclosure 

 of the scopuline spicule in the vitreous skeleton (PI. XV. fig. 1) : 

 a, spiniferous viti-eous fibre or skeleton ; b, scopuline spicule. 



Although this specimen was treated with liquor potassae in 

 the way above mentioned, it yielded neither rosette nor scopuline 

 spicule. Thus, but for the presence of the latter involved in 

 the skeleton, there might have been (and indeed was) a doubt 

 as to the species. Figs. 1 and 2 are on the scale of l-12th to 

 l-1800th of an inch. The difference in size is owing to the dif- 

 ference in the size of the fibre in the two specimens figured. 



Fig. 3. AphrocalUstes Bocagei. Fragment involved in the Gummina 

 ( Coiiicinm abgs^i) enveloping Farrea occa, which had grown on 

 a dead Lojjhohelia proHfcra dredged up from muddy bottom at 

 the western entrance of the English Channel, on board H.M.S. 

 ' Porcupine,' in 500 fathoms (see sketches of specimen, 'Annals,' 

 1873, vol. xii. pi. i. figs. 1 & 2), showing an enclosure of the 

 sexradiate spicule with feather-like arm in the vitreous skeleton 

 (PI. XV. fig. 9) : a a, spiniferous vitrified skeleton ; b, sex- 

 radiate spicule with feather-like arm. Scale 1-1 2th to l-1800th 

 of an inch. 



