R. W. H. ROW— REPORT ON THE SPONGES : NON-CALCAREA. 299: 
and not occurring in the dermal cortex-wall. They measure about 7 to 8 wu 
in diameter and possess 6 or 8 rays on the average. 
From the above description of the spicules of this species it will be seen 
to fall into Sollas’s subgenus Dirhabdosa of the genus Geodia. 
Locality. Three specimens were obtained from a buoy in Suez Harbour, 
and a fourth specimen was obtained at Khor Dongonab. 
Distribution. Red Sea. 
Family EPIPOLASIDA. 
W 
Astrotetraxonida with oxeote megascleres, and usually euasters for micro- 
scleres. 
CoPPaTIAS ALBESCENS, n. sp. (Pl. 36. fig. 9; Text-fig. 3.) 
The present species has been founded upon a specimen of small size. It 
consists of a flattened lamella of somewhat triangular shape, and appears to 
have grown in an erect position, attached to a branching coral. The point of 
attachment is very small, and the sponge gradually increases in width to the 
suinmit. It measures 18 mm, high, 12 mm. wide at the top, and has a 
thickness of about 5—7 mm. 
Two oscula occur near the top of the sponge, each possessing a clearly 
marked oscular membrane, which is partially closed 
over the osculum in each case. The oscula, when 
wide open, would measure 2—3 mm. in diameter. 
All over the surface of the sponge there occur 
very large numbers of small pore-areas (see photo, 
A Pl. 86. fig. 9). These pore-areas are nearly always 
situated at the bottom of very slight depressions, 
NV and rarely contain more than two or three pores. 
AS Many of the pore-areas in the photograph, in fact, 
\e will be seen to contain but a single pore, though 
Na a few cases may be seen where six or eight 
are visible in a single pore-area. The average 
pore-areas measure from 0:1 mm. to 0°15 mm. in 
diameter, and the pores themselves are usually not 
more than 0:05 mm. in diameter. 
The sponge is of hard texture, and cannot be 
Fig. 3.—Coppatias albescens. ent without breaking. 
Ny 1b sit The colour in spirit is white. 
The ectosome does not appear differentiated into a cortex, but there is 
present a special ectosomal skeleton in the form of a dense layer of minute 
oxyasters immediately below the surface of the sponge, and a very dense 
layer of oxea lying below the asters, which are typically tangential, but lie 
frequently quite irregularly between the tangential and vertical positions. 
