108 ON ZOOPHYTES AND SPONOES EEOM E. COAST OF SCOTLAND. 



vents (" oscula " of Bowerbank) are few and scattered (or absent 

 altogether, Johnston), yet the only ficoid specimen in the pre- 

 sent collection exhibits most distinctly a localization, of these 

 openings on the upper margin of the sponge, forming a linear 

 series a little below its apex, in a slightly excavated depression or 

 hilum; they measure 'S to 1 ram. in diameter, and are apparently 

 twenty to thirty in number ; their mouths are guarded and some- 

 what concealed by the projection of thin laminse of sponge-sub- 

 stance about 1 mm. in height, fringed with the skeleton-spicule. 

 Dissection of the sponge shows that excretory canals converge 

 towards and open by these orifices. 



Hob. Stations 1 & 2 ; 40 and 42 fathoms. 



Distrib. Northern, eastern, and western British and western 

 Irish coasts ; 1-50 fathoms {Boioerlanlc and Norman) . 



Suherites ficus, with the left side of the upper end removed, to show the efferent 

 canals (ft) and the spicular fringes {b) which surround their openings. 



Resiilis according io Stations. 



Station 1.— Lat. b&° 54' N., long. 0° 33' W. 42 fathoms. Sandy and 

 shelly bottom : — 



Alcyonidium parasiticumi One specimen. 

 Alcyonium digitatum. Two moderate-sized white specimens. 

 Suberitesficus. Two small, on shells ; one moderate-sized, free. 

 Amjyhilectiis Edwardi. One specimen. 

 Station 2.— Lat. 57° 7' N., long. 0° 37' W. 40 fathoms. Sandy and 

 shelly bottom : — 



Alcyonidium gelatinosum. Two small, on shells. 



Alcyonium digitatum. Two, large, massive and flattened, 



white ; two smaller, white ; one small, orange. 

 Hydractinia echinata. Covering Littorinal inhabited by 



Pagurus. 

 Suberitesficus. Two moderate-sized, on shells containing Pa- 

 gurus. One smalbsh, compressed, on end of Dentalium. 

 Amphilectus Edwardi. Good-sized specimen. 



