116 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Ge:vu8 IIALICHONDEITES, Dn. 



13. — IIalichonduitks confusus, Dawson. 



(Fig. 2G.) 



Fio, 26.— Hal ic/iondrites confusus. 

 Spicules enlarged. 



Oval or irvegiihir masses of small simple spicules, imbedded in patches 

 of pyrite, and without any definite arran<:;ement of ruot spicules, may 

 indicate the presence of a halichondroid sponjre. In the best preserved 

 specimens the spicules appear to be biacerate and more slender and 

 pointed than in the last, and tliey seem to be in two series, inclined at a 

 very oblique angle to each other. In some specimens elongated spaces, 

 with well-defined margins, are covered with thin films of pyrites, which 

 may have resulted from the replacement or incrustation of a mass of 

 minute spicules, of Avhich traces remain in some places. 



It is to be observed in this connection that sponges having oiiginally 

 much keratose or other dense aninuil matter would naturally aggregate 

 in and around themselvos a greater quantity of pyrite than those of a 

 more purely siliceous character. . ^ ' 



Genus STEPHANELLA, Hinde. 

 Established by Dr. Hinde, London Geological Magazine, 1891, p. 22, 

 to contain some sponge remains discovered by Dr. Ami in the Utica shale 

 at Ottawa, and ccmsisting a])parently of groups of very fine radiating 

 spicules. S. sancta, Hinde, is the type species. Dr. Hinde regards them 

 as basal spicules of a sponge to which other outer structures which have 

 perished may have been attached. / • 



14. — StEPHANELLA HINDU, 8. n. ' 



-' (Figs. 27, 28 and 29.) 



Fig. ^.—Stepfianclla Hindii. Slightly enlarged. 



