dredged up from the Gulf of Manaar. 59 



the shaft 5 rays equal in length to the distance between the 

 points of radiation and the end of the shaft on each side ; all 

 parts of the spicule about the same thinness, which is almost 

 immeasurable; all microspined and all respectively terminated 

 by a globular inflation, 5 by 4-6000ths long (fig. 25, c). Size 

 of largest specimen that of the Melobesian nodule which it 

 infests, viz. \\ inch in diameter. 



Hob. Marine. Excavating nodules formed of the layers 

 of Melobesia. 



Loc. Gulf of Manaar. 



Obs. Like Alectona Millar i, this is essentially an excavating 

 sponge ; for the whole nodule is honeycombed by it ; and the 

 largest cavity exposed is one sixth of an inch in diameter, 

 fenestrated towards the surface and in the direction of the 

 other cavities which surround it, so that there can be no doubt 

 of its nature any more than of that of the foregoing species. 

 Then the spiculation being something like that of Alectona 

 Millar i, and especially the flesh-spicule, I have named it after 

 my friend Mr. Thomas H. Higgin, F.L.S., of Liverpool, who 

 has made such important additions to our knowledge of the 

 Spongida. 



Samus anonymus, Gray. 



This species, which is common in excavations of the Melo- 

 besian nodules, I described and figured in the ' Annals ' 

 (1879, vol. iii. p. 350, pi. xxix. figs. 1-4), afterwards stating 

 (Journ. Roy. Microscop. Soc. I. c.) that it would probably have 

 to be placed as a new genus among the excavating sponges. The 

 form and frequency with which it occurs in the Melobesian 

 nodules of the Gulf of Manaar has now (as before stated) placed 

 this beyond doubt ; therefore I will at once give its generic 

 characters under the name " Samus" which was established 

 by Dr. Gray (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1867, p. 526) upon the spicule 

 of an unknown sponge, first figured by Dr. Bowerbank (B. S. 

 vol. i. pi. ii. figs. 41, 42). 



Samus, no v. gen. 



Gen. char. — Sarcode charged with large, coarse, multifid 

 spicules, whose prongs are more or less subdivided according 

 to the species ; filling excavated cavities in calcareous struc- 

 tures when fresh, and when dry contracted into masses, 

 through which the prongs of the spicules project in a thorn- 

 like manner ; connected with filamentous processes of the 

 same, which occupied the channels of extension ; generally 

 accompanied by a flcsh-spiculc. 



