ih: 
1905 | A New REcENT MARINE SPONGE. 15 
ever, definite fibres. The outer surface of the sponge is consider- 
ably abraded and little of the dermal membrane remains, but within 
the cup the membrane for the most part is preserved and exhibits 
numerous openings, from 1 to over 20 mm. across, leading from 
the interior of the wall. 
The total height of the sponge is 407 mm. (16 inches), with 
a diameter at the rim above of 560 mm. (22 inches). The wall of 
the cup grows somewhat thinner as the rim is approached; it 
varies from nearly 30 to about 15 mm. through. The stall is 
roughly lenticular in transverse section, and measures about 
115 mm.(4% inches) in the longer and about 65mm. (2% inches) in 
the shorter diameter. 
The spicules are as follows: (a2) Megasclera, of one kind, viz., 
stout, straight, smooth, sharply and rather abruptly pointed styli, 
thickest at mid-length; varying in length from .432 to .4g1 mm. 
with a maximum thickness of about .or3 mm. (6) Microsclera, of 
two xinds. (1) Large palmate anisochelz occurring abundantly in 
all parts of the sponge and often together in the form of rosettes 
particularly in the surface membrane; length varying from .o85 to 
.ogt mm. Numerous immature spicules of this kind are present. (2) 
Sigmata, simple and rather small; in length about .org mm. Only 
a few examples of this form of spicule have been observed. 
The most interesting features of this sponge are its symmetrical 
shape andits large size. As regards the spiculation it conforms to 
the general Espered/a type of structure but the spicules are not of 
exactly the same size and shape as those of any species of the genus 
known to the writer. Bella Bella the village near which the sponge 
was obtained suggests the name by which the species may be 
known. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 
Figure 1.—Side view of Zsferella bellabellensis, slightly less than 
one-fifth natural size. 
Figure 2.—Stylus; x 136, 
Figures 3, 3a.—Anisochele#; x 272. 
Figure 4.—Sigmata; x 272. 
