of the National Antarctic Expedition. 283 



species the radiate bundles brancli in a fan-like manner, 

 finally forming an almost uniform surface layer of vertical 

 oxeas. Tiie microsclcies in D. (?) ramosa are isochelge 

 arc 11 at ae. 



Locality. Coalman I., 100 fatli. 



Desmacidon spinigera, sp. n. 

 Sponge digitiform or knob-like ; surface coarsely spinous. 

 Consistence rather hard. Colour pale red. Several small 

 oscules about 2 mm. in diameter. 



Dermal membrane spread like a delicate net between the 

 spines, and at some distance from the floors of tiie subdermal 

 spaces. Flagellated chambers oval, 46 x 32 ix. 



Skeleton formed of coarse, longitudinal main strands, 

 about 180 yLt thick, radiating out to the surface, with loose 

 scattered s|)icules between, united in horizontal bundles only 

 beneath tiie surface. 



Spicules. — Megascleres : oxeas, 731 x 26/a, curved at centre, 

 mostly subtornote, though some attenuate gradually, with 

 sharp pointed ends. 



]\Iicroscleres of one kind, viz. isochela3 palmatae, 24*64 /a 

 long and 5"28 fju broad, on side view ; pointed at each end, 

 with straight axis; with palmate teeth ^-^ ^ long, and with 

 narrow alse 8"8 fx long. 



Four specimens were obtained. The type specimen from 

 No. 10 hole, 130 fath., is digitate, 7'5 cm. in length and 2 cm. 

 in diameter. The spines are •2-*5 cm. long, those at the 

 lower end pointing obliquely upwards, but above becoming 

 vertical to the long axis. 



Tliis species bears much resemblance to Desmacidon setifer^ 

 Topsent, obtained by the ' Belgica ' from the Atlantic. The 

 isochelge are of much the same character, but those of 

 D. setifer are very much larger, viz. 75-100 /i by 18-20 /i. 

 Further, the consistence of the latter is soft, the colour 

 yellowisii in spirit, and the surface hispidation mucli finer. 



Localities. Winter Quarters, 20-130 fath.; Coulman I., 

 100 fath. 



Joyeuxia Belli*, sp. n. 

 Sponge attached, ovoid, with a thick rind enclosing a soft 

 pulp ; with short conical osular, and long trumpet-shaped 

 poral papillro. Surface finely pilose. Colour of surface 

 yellow, of the rind whitish, and of the pith deep yellow. 



* Named in honour of Emeritus Professor F. J. Bell, of the Zoological 

 Department of the Natural History Museum, and editor of the " Reports 

 on the Natural History Collections " brought home by the 'Discovery ' 

 from the Antarctic. 



19* 



