312 Mr. II. J. Carter on Deep-sea 



a Thalf/si'as to be accompanied by any flesh-spicule ; and hence 

 I propose for it tlie name of 2\ tricurvatifera ] it is one of 

 those on CoralJistes Boiverbankn from Cape St. Vincent. The 

 vahie, however, of the presence or absence of a flesh-spicule for 

 specific designation will, I think, as I have before stated, be 

 found vcrj' doubtful in many instances. 



Beniera crassa^ n. sp. 



General form irregular, massive, lobate. Colour pale ochre- 

 yellow. Surface even, undulating with the form of the mass, 

 provided with a beautiful dermal reticulation (composed of 

 sarcode charged with the spicules of the species) whose free 

 side is smooth and the other rough where it intermingles 

 with the subjacent structure. Pores in the sarcode tympan- 

 izing the interstices of the dermal reticulation. Vents congre- 

 gated in large deep depressions or holes here and there, where 

 they open through a large cribriform dermal layer at the 

 bottom. Internal structure massive, areolar, composed of 

 sarcode densely charged with the spicules of the species and 

 traversed by the branches of the excretory canal-system, 

 which finally open at the cribriform vents mentioned. Spicule of 

 one kind only, viz. acerate, curved, smooth, abruptly pointed, 

 85- by 45-60()0ths inch, accompanied by others of all sizes, 

 some of which are not more than 6-6000ths inch long, although 

 of the same thickness (that is, nearly as thick as long), with 

 rounded ends, sausage-like. Size of specimen about 6 inches 

 long by 3 inches thick. 



Ilab. Marine. 



Loc. A little south of the Faroe Islands, in 167 fathoms. 



Ohs. The number on the jar containing this specimen is 

 " 60," which station gives the locality and depth above 

 mentioned. It is one of the coarse, large Renierida which I 

 intend to place under the group " Crassa." They much 

 exceed in size the Thalyosa, which they otherwise resemble 

 in consistence and spicule, being of a chalky friable nature 

 wlien dry, and, for the most part, of an ochreous yellow colour. 

 There is one in the British Museum, which is crateriform in 

 the centre, measuring 18 inches in diameter by 12 inches 

 high. The coarseness in structure, arising chiefly from the 

 greater size of the spicule, is the chief character that distin- 

 guishes the Crassa from the Thalyosa. 



Halichondriaforcipisj Bk., var. hulhosa, n. sp. (PI. XIII. 

 fig. 19, and PI. XV. fig. 37, a, h.) 



General form, surface, pores, vents, and excretory canal- 

 system ? (being a mere fragment). Internal structure can- 



