SPONGES OF BEAUFORT (N. C.) HARBOR AND VICINITY. 167 
The chief characteristics of the species, as brought out through the comparison of specimens, no 
two of which agree in detail, are: The predominantly simple character of the main fibers and the con- 
nectives; the existence of dermal connectives; the tendency for the outer ends of the radial fibers to 
become fascicular through the extension of, and union between, the roots of the surrounding dermal 
connectives. 
The shape of the body in most of the specimens is platelike, the plate probably standing more or less 
vertically; the platelike body may be produced into lobes. The platelike shape is not universal, for 
in the type specimen (Pl. LXIV, fig. 41) there is simply a common basal part dividing above into a few 
subcylindrical or flattened lobes. The specimens vary in total height from 50 to 130 millimeters; in 
thickness from 10 to 35 millimeters. 
The sponge is beset with sharp conuli connected by thin interconular ridges, which divide the 
surface into rounded or polygonal, depressed areas. The conuli project 1 millimeter or less above the 
ridges but 1.5 to 3 millimeters above the level of the depressed areas. They are 2 to 4 millimeters 
apart, these distances representing usually the diameters of the interconular depressed areas, but the 
bounding ridges are sometimes absent, with the result that interconular areas are produced larger than 
the normal. The ridges themselves vary in height from a fraction of 1 millimeter to 2 millimeters. 
The specimens studied all being beach specimens, although fresh and in good condition, it is quite 
probable that in them the conuli and interconular ridges are sharper, and the depressed areas deeper, 
than in the living sponge, owing to contraction incident upon partial drying. 
Over a part of one specimen the radial fibers (see below) project from the summit of the conuli. 
But this is a condition obviously pathological (in a wide sense) and of no classificatory value. 
The conuli are generally vertical to the surface, but on parts of several of the platelike specimens they 
incline obliquely upward toward the free margin of the sponge. ‘Thus several interconular ridges, 
together with the depressions between them, are combined along lines that radiate toward the free 
margin. ‘This leads to the appearance of ridges and furrows, radial to the margin, that may be 15 milli- 
meters long, a type of surface architecture which approaches that shown in some of Hyatt’s specimens 
of H. campana (Hyatt, 1877, Pl. XVII, fig. 28). In such regions the dermal connectives (see below) 
in a ridge are combined to form continuous fibers which extend the length of the ridge; these are con- 
nected by transverse, simple fibers, and thus a ladderlike dermal skeleton is produced. 
Foreign mineral particles are present in considerable abundance on the surface and in the ectosome, 
which thus sometimes to a depth of 1804 appears dense and whitish as compared with the light yellowish- 
brown interior. The particles include the usual sand grains, spicule fragments, and foraminifer shells 
or bits of the same. They are scattered; that is, are not abundant enough to be massed together so as 
to form a continuous sand cortex. The particles for the most part are small, but in several specimens 
large sand grains, up to 250 u in diameter, are abundant among the smaller bits. 
A surface reticulum consisting of pore areas separated by trabecule containing closely packed sand 
grains is not present in these specimens. But this reticular appearance, which is so common in horny 
sponges and, because of the sand grains in the trabeculz, so conspicuous in some Hircinias, is, as has 
been shown (Wilson, 1902, p. 405), greatly influenced by the physiological state; that is, whether the 
pores are open or not. There are in several specimens of the present species indications that in the 
active state pore areas will be found, 150 to 250 u in diameter, each containing one or more pores 25 to 
70 » in diameter, and separated by interareal trabecule of thicker dermal membrane full of mineral 
particles. Actually only a few pores are open. 
Subdermal cavities 2 to 3 millimeters wide are abundant, more so in some specimens than in others. 
The sponge interior is porous, with canals upto about 3 millimeters in diameter. The flagellated cham- 
bers measure about 36 by 28 4. Oscula, 1 to 4 millimeters in diameter, are scantily scattered over both 
surfaces in the tabular specimens. 
The filaments (Pl. LX VI, fig. 61) are very abundant. They are about 6 » in diameter at the middle, 
3 to 4m near the ends. The terminal enlargements are oval and about 9 » thick. The filaments are 
smooth and for the most part colorless and unspotted, but in one of the specimens some of the filaments 
are “‘spotted,’’ others not. The ‘‘spotted’’ or ‘‘unspotted’’ condition is obviously of no classificatory 
value. ‘The filaments in some regions, especially around some of the canal walls, are arranged in more 
or less distinct tracts. 
The surface color varies from whitish to a dull purple. The natural color has probably In part 
faded out. The sponge is firm, but compressible and elastic. 
