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Mr. H. J. Carter’s Contributions 
from a thin layer of the flesh-spicules. Size of largest speci¬ 
men 3-12ths inch in horizontal diameter. 
Hob. Marine, on hard objects. 
Loc. South Sea, on the older and deciduous parts of Sty- 
laster sanguineus. 
Obs. Examined in the dried state. The beautiful spicu- 
lation of this delicate little sponge is remarkable, when dry, 
for its pellucid white colour. It is so thin that much care is 
required in raising a portion for examination by the micro¬ 
scope, without which, even in situ , it can hardly be recog¬ 
nized. Answering to Dr. Bowerbank’s characters of his genus 
Hymeraphia (Mon. Brit. Spong. vol. ii. p. 7), I have given 
it this appellation, together with the specific distinction of 
11 spiniglobate,” to mark the existence of a globular flesh- 
spicule with thin spines instead of thick conoid rays, like the 
11 globostellate ” of Donatia lyncurium, accompanied by the 
subspiral transitionary form (fig. 16, b, cl), which illustrates 
the connexion between the spinispirular ( Spiralstern ) and the 
stellate, noticed by Schmidt in accounting for the differences 
between his two figures of the spiculation of Vioa Joknstonii 
(Spongienf. d. atlant. Geb. 1870, p. 5). 
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 
Plate XXV. 
Fig. 1. Axos spimpoculmn , n. sp. (4-Gths of the natural size). From a 
photograph, a a, pieces of old coral detritus on which the 
sponge has grown. 
Fig. 2. The same. Skeleton-spicule (scale l-24th to l-6000th inch). 
a, length on scale of l-24th to l-1800tli inch, for comparison. 
Fig. 3. The same. Flesh-spicule, a , occasional form of terminal spines 
(same scale). 
Fig. 4. The same. Diagram of elementary parts, relatively magnified 
(on scale of l-6th to l-24th inch), showing:— a a, yellowish- 
white areolar sarcode; b, chondroid skeleton ; c c, cortical layer, 
traversed by reticulation of P pore-canals (fig. 7, b)■ d d, spines; 
e, portion of commencement of excretory canal, lined with 
transverse folds or rugae. 
Fig. 5. The same. Portion of commencement of excretory canal, much 
more magnified, showing:— a a a, wall of canal; bbb, open¬ 
ings into smaller branches; ccc, transverse folds or rugae. 
Fig. 6. The same. Inner layer of excretory canal, greatly magnified, 
showing that it is composed of :—a a a a, longitudinal fibres; 
bbb, transverse fibres, corresponding in position with the rugae. 
Fig. 7. The same. Cortical layer, much magnified, to show:— a, hori¬ 
zontal fibres; b, minute reticulation; c, vertical lines or straight 
portions of the same, terminating on the inner side. 
Fig. 8. The same. End of single fibre, to show its pointed form, and 
that the fibre is made up of fibrillae (a). 
Fig. 9. The same. Epithelial or outer layer of the excretory canal, to 
