1881.] THE SURVEY OF H. M.S. 'alert.' Ill 



generally less thick than in our species. When the external characters 

 of this Sponge are known, it may perhaps prove to be identical with 

 our species. 



Of several Sponges which have almost identically the same spicule 

 may be mentioned : — Spongin arborescens, Lamarck, said to inhabit 

 the "seas of America;" Ghalina limbata, Bowerbank (Montagu?), and 

 C. gracilenta, Bowerbank, Britain. The latter is probably the nearest- 

 alUed species which has been described, but differs in having the 

 spicules much more numerous in the fibres, in having a less elaborate 

 intermediate set of fibres, in the slightly inferior length (about 'US 

 millim.) of the spicules, and the coatinj? habit of growth. 



The specific name has been given to it in honour of the discoverer. 

 Dr. R. W. Coppinger, who has, by the richness in species of this 

 valuable collection, and by the good condition in which he has sent 

 the specimens, made so important an addition to our knowledge of 

 the Sponge-fauna of a region in which it has been hitherto almost 

 entirely uninvestigated. 



SiPHONOCHALiNA FORTis, sp. n. (Plate X. fig. 3.) 



Erect, tubular. Tube dilated in some parts. Mouth single, 

 unfringed. Main skeleton composed of a set of primary horny 

 fibres radiating from inner to outer surface, projecting from the 

 latter by short points, diameter from •14 to '25 millim. ; and of a 

 secondary set at right angles to the former, diameter from '07 to 

 •14 millim.; both sets amber-brown in colour. Primary fibres 

 cored by an axial series of proper spicules, 3 to 5 spicules broad, 

 often somewhat scattered ; secondary fibres cored by an axial series 

 of proper spicules, 1 to 2 spicules in breadth. Dermal skeleton 

 composed of a rectangular network of pale-brown fibre from •0095 

 to •02.5 millim. in diameter, extending between points of primary 

 fibres, generally cored by 1 to 2 series of spicules. Parenchyma 

 transparent, almost colourless. Spicules of one kind in skeleton and 

 flesh, viz. smooth acerate, tapering to sharp points from about 2g 

 diameters from the ends ; size ^07284 by '00739 millim. 

 Examined. Dry and by mounting in balsam. 

 External Characters. The single specimen consists of a tube which 

 has been torn from a larger mass, and might well, when perfect, 

 have had the general form of the specimen figured' as Callyspongia 

 bullata by Duchassaing de Fontbressin andG. Michelotti, and referred 

 by Schmidt^ with great probability, to a species of Siphonochal'ma. 

 The tube is 40 miUims. in height, 17 millims. at its greatest, 11 

 millims. at its smallest diameter ; it has somewhat the outline of 

 an hour-glass, being constricted to 11 millims. at about 10 millims. 

 from the mouth ; it is circular, with walls varying from 1 to 4 millims. 

 thick. It has lost most of its sarcodeand much of its dermal skeleton. 

 The edge of the mouth is level all round, and shows no trace of a 

 fringe of projecting fibres. 



Vents. These are probably represented by the single month. 



' Spong. Mer. Caraib., pi. x. fig. 5. ' Spong. atl. Qeb. p. 33. 



