CONRAD FR1STEDT. [SEC. ARCT. EXP. FHAM 



The acerate spicules are very long, and generally straight, though 

 occasionally slightly curved. 



According to Bowerbank (Brit. Spongiada?, Vol. IV) the geographical 

 distribution of this sponge is Greenland, Spitsbergen, Norway, the Faroe 

 Islands, Newfoundland, the Great Belt and Heligoland (There is no 

 calcispongia from the west coast of Greenland in the state zoological 

 museum in Stockholm.) I was at first inclined to believe that this 

 sponge might be a new species, on account of the very small number 

 of quadriradiate spicules, or possibly a variable form of Ascandra 

 mirabilis FRISTEDT (Sponges from the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and 

 the Behring Sea, p. 406, pi. 22, figs. 313, pi. 26, figs. 1&2), but the 

 absence of the smaller acerate spicules (loc. cit. figs. 5 & 6), and the 

 great resemblance to Sycandra ciliata, H. induced me to identify this 

 species with the above-mentioned S. ciliata. 



Chalina Grant. 



Chalina limbata Bow. 



Spongia limbata MONTAGU (Vern. Mem. II, 111, pi. 15, 

 figs. 2 & 3). 



Chalina h'mbata Bowerbank (Monograph Brit. Spongiadae II, 

 p. 373). 



There are two specimens of this species in the collection from Elles- 

 mere Land, probably two fragments of one specimen. The larger of the 

 two pieces is about 40 mm. in length, and 22mm. in breadth, the thick- 

 ness being 20 mm. It is furnished with only one osculum, the diameter 

 of which is 3 mm. The smaller of the specimens has two oscula, both 

 of which measure 2 mm. in diameter. The consistency of the sponge 

 is exceedingly soft. The surface is slightly hispid, owing to the pro- 

 jection of the dermal spicules. The dermal membrane is very thin and 

 pellucid. The sarcode is rather abundant, and of a brown colour. The 

 pores are scattered all over the surface. 



The colour of the sponge, both when preserved in spirit and when 

 dry, is light brown. 



The skeleton consists of spiculous fibres. The spicules of the softer 

 membranes and the fibres are similar; namely, acerate, slightly curved 

 and short pointed. There are very few acuate spicules. 



The above-described specimens agree fairly well with Bowerbank's 

 description of Chalina limbata Bow., but the fibres of the specimens 



