NO. ly NEW SPONGES— DE LAUBENFELS I9 



the length of the rhabds, and in some individual spicules the sym- 

 metry is so great as to resemble the peculiar microscleres of the genus 

 Didiscus Dendy. 



As indicated above, systematic allocation of this sponge is rather 

 difficult. The general external appearance is much like that of Podo- 

 spongia, but the internal architecture differs in a way that may or may 

 not be highly significant. Some of the microscleres bear a strong 

 resemblance to those found in Podospongia, but against this is the 

 possibility that the resemblance may be merely a coincidence. Podo- 

 spongia is from deep water in the eastern Atlantic but at about the 

 same latitude as Alcyospongia india, which is also from rather deep 

 water. 



ADOCIIDAE, n. fam. 



This family name is proposed for the group hitherto called Gelliidae 

 Ridley and Dendy, the new name being necessary because Burton 

 (1934, p. 530) demonstrates that the type specimen of the type species 

 of the genus Gellhis is an exceedingly minute, possibly pathological, 

 or very juvenile sponge, so that we must regard GclUus Gray as an 

 unrecognizable genus. 



STRONGYLOPHORA Dendy 

 STRONGYLOPHORA RAMPA, n. sp. 



Holotype.—U.S.'NM. no 22386. 



Other specimens. — U.S.N.M. nos. 22387, 22273, 22254, and 22305. 



The type specimen is from station 104, latitude i8°3o'4o" N., longi- 

 tude 66°i3'20" W. to latitude i8°3o'io" N., longitude 66°i3'5o" W., 

 March 8, 1933, of 80 to 120 fathoms. Another specimen was collected 

 at the same station. One was taken at station 26, February 7, 1933, 

 latitude i8°3o'2o" N., longitude 66°22'o5" W. to latitude i8°3o' 

 30" N., longitude 66°23'o5" W., 33 to 40 fathoms. Two were col- 

 lected at station 17, February 3, 1933, latitude i8°3o'oo" N., longi- 

 tude 66°io'3o" W. to latitude i8°3o'oo" N., longitude 66° i2'2o" W., 

 of 46 to 90 fathoms. One was taken at station 16, on the same day, 

 latitude i8°29'4o" N., longitude 66 ° 08' 30" W. to latitude i8°3i' 

 00" N., longitude 66° 10' 15" W., 38 to 95 fathoms. 



The type specimen and no. 22305 are cylinders 7 cm in diameter 

 and about equal in height. No. 22273 is also cylindrical, but the other 

 three are not so symmetrical and are slightly smaller than the type. 

 The color as preserved in alcohol is gray, and the consistency is slightly 

 spongy but easily broken or torn. The pores are abundant, minute, 



