and Acapuico fiponges. 299 



ago when U.S. Consul there, and finally came to me through 

 Dr. Dickie for examination. From its present feathery form, 

 its spiculation may be briefly described under the name 



Kvpcria plamosa^ n. sp. 



Skeletal spicule sub-pinlike, with the head much smaller 

 than the thickest part of the shaft, 80 by 25-GOOOths inch in 

 its greatest dimensions ; inequianchorate 12 by 5-(30UUths 

 inch ; a simple C-shaped bihamate 21 by H-6000ths, and a 

 t]-icurvate 2O-60U0ths inch long ; all of the ordinary forms ; 

 togfiher with the minute e^-'.a'anchorate 2i-6000ths long, in 

 great abundance, but perhaps not more so than the minute 

 bihamates and tricurvates ; while the smallest //iequiancho- 

 rates are about 4-6000ths inch long. 



Esperia obscura^ n. sp. 



Is a fragment of a massive specimen about 2x2x1 inch 

 in its greatest dimensions, with all tlie characters of Esperia, 

 viz. lace-like dermal layer, rigid interior fibre, and acuate 

 (sub-pinlike) form of skeletal spicule, but with an inequi- 

 anchorate about 5-6000ths long so transparent in its detail 

 that all I can give of it are the representations (PI. XI. fig. 18), 

 in the hope that it might be thus recognized and finally illus- 

 trated anatomically. 



Loc. Fremantle. Found in a rotten state in Dr. Bower- 

 bank's collection, 



EiiArHiDOTiiECA, Kent, 



In the specimens of RhapMdotheca. Marshall- HaJIi^ Kent, 

 and R. afjinls^ Carter, both of which are Esperiw^ the anclio- 

 rates differ so little that, unless the accurately delineated forms 

 respectively are placed side by side as I have done (Journ. 

 Roy. Microscop. Soc. 1879, vol. ii. pi. xvii. «, figs, 3 and 4), 

 the differences are almost too sliglit to be of any specific 

 value ; and, after all, they may be only varieties ,• while the 

 ])resenceof thep«'«-/«7ie spicules in each, witii their heads outer- 

 most, accompanied by their spirillar flcsh-spicales, has been 

 shown to be adventitious (ibid. pp. 407, 498) or appropriated, 

 having first belonged to another sponge. It is remarkable 

 also tliat the specimens should come from parts wide apart, 

 viz, lihaphidotheca Marshall- 1 lalli from the Atlantic on the 

 coast of Portugal, and R. ap'ln is from the Atlantic between 

 the north of Scotland and the Faroe Islands, both uj)on closely 

 allied forms of branched stony corals, in one of which my 

 Cliona abijHsoruni with the same kind of smooth spirular Hcsli- 

 spicule occurs. 



