CHAP. Vll. 



THE DEEP-SEA FAUNA. 



429 



the hexradiate type characteristic of this group. 

 Between the two netted surfaces the sponge sub- 

 stance is formed of loose curving meshes of loosely 

 aggregated bundles of long simple fibres, sparsely 

 mixed with spicules of other forms. This sponge 

 seems to live fixed to a stone. There are no 

 anchoring spicules, and the bottom of the vase, 



FIG. 67. Askonema setubalense, KENT. One-eighth the natural size. (No. 25, 1870.) 



which in our two specimens is a good deal con- 

 tracted and has a square shape something like an 

 old Irish 'mether,' has apparently been torn from 

 some attachment. This fine species was named 

 Askonema setubalense, and very briefly described 

 from a specimen in the Lisbon Museum by Mr. 

 Saville Kent, in a paper in which he noticed some 



