CHAP, x.] CONTINUITY OF THE CHALK. 483 



and he referred the group to the Polyzoa. When 

 Mr. Toulmin Smith studied the Ventriculites, the 

 Hexactinellidae the sponges with six-rayed meshes 

 or spicules were practically unknown, though there 



FIG. 80. Ventriculites simplex, TOULMIN SMITH. Once and a half the natural size. 



were already a few examples in museums. One of the 

 first results of deep-sea dredging was the discovery 

 that the chalk-mud of the deep sea is in many places 

 literally crowded with these ; and when we compare 



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