NO. 1/ NEW SPONGES— DE LAUBENFELS I3 



the spicules are much larger, reaching a size of 25 fx. by 1,600 /x; and 

 I do not find any reference in the description of hilgendorfi to the 

 dermal sieves that are so characteristic of rhoplwxco. 



HYMENIACIDONIDAE, n. fam. 



This group is separated from the Axinellidae by the possession of 

 a smooth or fleshy ectosome in contrast to the hispid one of erect 

 spicules characteristic of proper Axinellidae. It is related to that 

 family, like it having a plumose to confused interior, few microscleres, 

 and a ready transition of megascleres between the monactinal and 

 diactinal forms. 



VILES, n. gen. 



This genus is erected for sponges much like Acanthella Schmidt but 

 having oxeas for main spicules instead of styles. The flexuous oxeas 

 found in Viles as auxiliary spicules much resemble the illustrations 

 to which Carter (1876, p. 459) applies the generic designation of 

 Ophiraphidites, but since otherwise this presumed genus of Carter's 

 is utterly unrecognizable, one cannot say whether it is congeneric with 

 Viles. 



Genotype. — Viles ophiraphidites, new species. 



VILES OPHIRAPHIDITES, n. sp. 



Holotype. — U.S.N.M. no. 22334; from station 45, latitude 18° 13' 

 10" N., longitude 67°25'3o" W. to latitude i8°i4'3o" N., longitude 

 67°25'3o" W., February 13, 1933, 20 to 40 fathoms. 



The specimen is a subspherical mass 2 by 3 by 4 cm, about half 

 covered by a calcareous layer that seems to be algal. The sponge may 

 have grown into the mass of algae, rather than having been overgrown 

 by it. The color is dark gray, with a slightly pinkish shade that may 

 not be proper to the species. The consistency is slightly spongy but 

 in general mediocre. The surface is uneven but not pronouncedly 

 hispid, merely irregularly covered with low lumps. The pores are 

 not evident, but there is an oscule about 2 mm in diameter. The in- 

 ternal structure is confused, with evident spicules, presenting a type 

 of arrangement difficult to describe except by comparison to some such 

 tetraxonid genus as Pachastrella. The larger spicules are oxeas, nearly 

 straight, reaching a maximum size of 20 ft by 1,000 11, but oftener 

 about 12 /A by 600 /a. Among them, and binding them together, are 

 sinuous, much-curved diactines, which are essentially oxeas but almost 

 attain the shape of ends that would cause them to be termed strongyles. 



