247 



Microscleres. — Sigma, 27.5 h- in length by 2.7 in thickness. 



Rhaphides, 60 /^ in length, solitary or in trichodragmata. 



Locality A, — East London coast, 85 fms., encrusting Placo- 

 spongia labyrinthica. 



The new species differs from S. arborea itiihi, not merely in 

 its form but in comparatively slight development of spongin. 

 The styles are markedly different in shape, those of S. arhorea 

 being much narrowed at the base. Further, the sigmas in the 

 latter are very considerably shorter and more slender. 



Genus Higginsia (Higgins). 

 Higginsia bidentifera (Ridley and Dendy). 



1886. Dendropsis bidentifera, Ridley and Dendy [14, p. 483]. 



1887. Do. do. [15, p. 192, pis. x.xxviii., xl., xlvi.] 

 1898. Higginsia bidentifera, Topsent [18, p. 93]. 



Four fine specimens of this species are in the present 

 collection, the largest being 250 cm. in height, and with a stem 

 4 cm. thick. 



The " Challenger " specimens were obtained from Simons 

 Bay, 20 fms. 



Locality A. — East London coast, 85 fms. 



Genus SoUasella (Lendenfeld). 

 Sollasella hystrix (Topsent). 



1892. Trachya hystrix, Topsent [16, p. 75, pi. i., figs. 8-10 ; and pi. xi., figs. 12-14]. 

 1898. Sollasella hystrix, Topsent [18, p. iri]. 



One small specimen of this species occurs in this collection. 

 The specimen is white in colour and pyriform, 2 cm. in height, 

 and 1.3 cm. in its greatest width. No oscules are perceptible. 

 On section, the cortical layer of microxeas shows us a well 

 defined white line. In one point the present specimen differs 

 from those described by Topsent ; the slender oxeas in the 

 choanosome are not only separate, but also united to form 

 trichodragmata. The size of the spicules is as follows : — 



Tyles 5270 X 64 f*, often with the base surmounted by a 

 small rounded knob; microxea 165x6, smooth, straight, 

 fusiform. Certain small tyles (170x5.5 /*) and asters present in 

 the slides are very probably adventitious. 



The type specimens came from 173.3 fms. and 247.5 fms. off 

 the Azores. 



Locality C. — Off Tugela River mouth, 65-85 fms. ; bottom, 

 hard ground. 



