382 Mr. H. J. Carter on Specimens 



a condensation of the skeleton-spicules extended from a general 

 axis similarly composed, or from the reticulated fibre of a 

 general areolation. Spicules of two kinds, viz. skeleton- and 

 flesh-spicules. 



Axos anchorata, n. sp. 

 (PL XVIII. fig. 3, a-f.) 



Cauliform, cylindrical, cactus-like, long, straggling, sessile, 

 growing from a small root-like expansion on a 7nussel-&\\e\\ 

 (fig. 3) ; sometimes branched ? ; bent and twisted upon itself, 

 snake-like in the specimens, apparently by accident, united 

 where in contact. Caulis small at the commencement, slightly 

 increasing afterwards and ? diminisliing towards the extremity. 

 Texture firm, but not hard. Colour now brown. Surface 

 aculeated throughout with short, conical, or obtuse or termi- 

 nally inflated processes, supported on reticulate ridges tending 

 to a longitudinal arrangement ; processes projected from the 

 points of the intersection of the ridges (lig. 3, a). Vents 

 numerous, scattered (fig. 3, c). Structure interiorly areolar 

 throughout, not axiated • cells of the areolation formed by the 

 sarcode tympanizing the interstices of the reticulated fibre 

 (fig. 3, b). Spicules of two kinds, viz. : — 1, skeleton-, acerate, 

 nearly straight, fusiform, gradually sharp-pointed, smooth, 

 l-85th by l-2000th inch in its greatest dimensions (fig. 3, d) • 

 2, flesh-spicule, very minute, equianchorate, shaft round, much 

 curved, avms falcate-linear, much spread, the central one almost 

 in continuation with the curve of the shaft, and the other two at 

 nearly right angles to it, about l-1500th inch long (fig. 3,e,f). 

 Skeleton-spicules arranged longitudinally in the reticulated 

 fibre and aculeations ; flesh-spicules scattered throughout the 

 sarcode generally. Length of caulis in the specimen indeter- 

 minable ; diameter near the base about l-6th inch, further up 

 l-3rd inch. 



Hah. Marine. 



Loc. Bass's Straits, South Australia. 



Obs. The cactus-like character of this stem at once points 

 out its affinity with the genus Axos, although the original 

 species, viz. Axos GUftoni, is axiated by a condensation of the 

 skeleton- spicule, like that of Cladorhiza abyssicola, Sars, and 

 Chondrocladia virgata. Sir Wy. Thomson, from the At- 

 lantic Qcean, wliose position also among the Holorhaphidota 

 is not yet determined. In general form, when fresh, Axos 

 ancJiorata seems to have been something like that species of 

 Cactus comxTiOiAj called "creeping cereus" {C.flagelUformis) ; 

 and so far again it resembles the long stems of Axos GUftoni 

 (see Dr. Bowerbank's excellent figure, Proc. Zool. Soc. Loud. 



