[DAWSON] FOSSIL SPONCiES AND OTHER ORGANIC REMAINS 



115 



the appearaiite ot" a rounded haskct with strong vertical ribs and very 

 slendor horizontal bars, within whitli and at top were quantities of slender 

 straiii'lit spiculehi. 



12. — Lasiothkix klabellata, s. n. 

 (Fig. 25.) 



Fi<i. •2h.—L<tfiio(li ri.r jUihellata. Restored, 

 and .spieulo.s x 5. 



I have some doubt as to the rin-ht of this species to be placed in Dr. 

 Ilinde's new genus; but the specimens much resemble the former species, 

 and may accompany it provisionally. The surtace appears to be covered 

 with small ovoid bundles of stout biacerate s])icules, diverging from the 

 centre and sometimes in fan-shaped tufts. Tlie specimens show indications 

 of an external meml)rane, and they had somewhat strong root spicules, 

 much larger than those of the body. It seems uncertain whether the fan- 

 shaped bundles are really such or flattened groups of radiating sj)icules 

 surrounding small oscula. In some specimens the spicules arc confusedly 

 scattered in tilms of pyritous matter with little indicati(m ot radiating 

 arrangement. Di-. llinde remarks as to this form that •' the spicules do 

 not stand out detinitely. as in the case of the hexactinellid sponge spicules, 

 but appeal- to be imbedded in some membrane. In two instances, aiudior- 

 ingspicules, like those of Trotospimgia, project from the base of the 

 mass. I do not know of any monactinellid sponge lurnished, as these 

 appear to have been, with long anchoring-spicules." 



The sponges of this genus are very rare in the Metis collections, and 

 are obscure and ditticult to make out as to their details. 



