364 Mr. H. J. Carter on 



wavy, interunited with each other, tending to a foliate arrange- 

 ment, but well separated, terminating in denticulated margins. 

 Consistence hard. Colour when fresh " orange-red," now 

 brown. Surface smooth, with a finely reticulated dermis, 

 supported on short hispid fibre. Spicules of one form only, 

 viz. acerate, 60 by l^-6000ths. Structure loose on the sur- 

 face, hardening towards the axis. Size of specimen 5^ in. 

 high, including the stem, which is 2^ in. long, A-x'd^ hori- 

 zontally across the brim. 

 Depth 19 fath. 



Group 7c. ACANTHELLINA. 



31. Acanthella cactiformis ^ Cart. (' Annals,' 1885, 

 vol. XV. p. 114, pi. iv. fig. Q). 



Ohs. Of this there are two specimens, viz. one dry, that to 

 which I have alluded, and the other wet, which is much 

 smaller and of which the depth was 19 fath. 



32. Acanthella hirciniopsis. 



Flabellate, with denticulated border and thorn-like irregu- 

 larly conulated surfaces. Consistence soft outside, covering 

 an extremely dense and compact massive skeletal frame. 

 Colour when fresh " Venetian red," now mouse-colour. Sur- 

 face most irregular in growth, especially on one side, covered 

 with prominent conuli, most irregularly distanced ; each 

 conulus smooth over the point where it is covered with a 

 beautifully reticulated dermis, which, descending to the inter- 

 conular spaces in a radiating form, becomes continuous with 

 that of its neighbours, very much like that of a Hircinia. 

 Epithelial cells, if any, very small, inconspicuous. Pores in 

 the interstices of the dermal reticulation. Vents here and 

 there, chiefly on the border. Spicules of one form only, viz. 

 long, acerate, of various sizes under 110 by li-6000ths. 

 Structure of the dermal reticulation soft, composed of fusiform 

 fibrillse, witJwut foreign substances ; epithelial cells small and 

 inconspicuous. Structure of the interior soft towards the 

 surface, becoming densely compact towards the centre, which, 

 when a portion is macerated, comes forth as a fenestrated 

 skeleton composed of an intensely tough hard condensation 

 of horny sarcode and the spicules of the species amassed 

 together. Size of specimen, which is only part of the ori- 

 ginal, from which it has been cut off, 6 in. high by 4:\ x 1 in. 

 horizontally. 



Depth 19 fath. 



