IN THE LOWER TERTIARY STRATA. OF ]^fEW ZEALAIs^D. 191 



PL VIII. fig- 30. Acuate spicule, with tlie upper portion 

 curved like a walking-stick, at right angles to the rest of 

 the shaft. Head evenly rounded and thick, thence gradually 

 tapering to the apes. The axial canal follows the curve of the 

 head. Length 'SI mm., thickness '025 mm. 



Smooth Acuates with Bulbous Shafts. 



PL VIII. figs. 39, 40. Approximately straight spicules, fusi- 

 form or styliform, with rounded or blunt heads, the top portion 

 of the shaft even, below this with several bulbous inflations at 

 irregular distances, the apices acutely pointed. The axial canal 

 is even throughout the spicule and not inflated. Length "53 to 

 •7 mm., greatest thickness of shaft '02, of inflated portion 

 °028 mm. Similarly inflated spicules occur in Phelloderma radia- 

 tum, llidley & Dendy (Chall. E,ep. vol. xx. p. 113, pi. 23. 

 figs. 8, 8 a), from ofi"the mouth of the E-io de la Plata at a depth 

 of 600 fathoms. 



Spined Acuate Spicules, 



PL VIII. fig. 24. Elongate slender acuate, very gradually 

 tapering from the summit, the head thickly set with minute spines 

 or tubercles; the rest of the shaft smooth. Length •62 mm., 

 thickness '012 mm. 



PL VIII. fig. 25. Straight acuate, very gradually and evenly 

 tapering from the summit to the apex ; upper portion of shaft 

 smooth, the rest covered with very minute spines. Length 

 ■51 mm., thickness "028 mm. 



PL VIII. figs. 26, 33. Curved acuates, nearly of an even 

 thickness in the upper two-thirds of the shaft, then tapering 

 slightly, abruptly pointed. Surface with very short conical 

 spines projecting at right angles, smooth near the aj)ex. Length 

 •165 to -215 mm., thickness •OlS mm. Nearly similar forms are 

 figured in Salichondria Dickiei,^o\v. (Mon. Brit. Spong. vol.iii. 

 pi. xlv. fig. 4). 



PL VIII. fig. 27. Curved acuate, thickest in central portion, 

 abruptly pointed ; surface thickly set with stout conical spines 

 projecting at right angles. Length -265 mm., thickness -025 mm. 



PL VIII. fig. 28. Curved acuate, slightly inflated at the 

 summit, tapering gradually in the lower half ; surface covered 

 with numerous short spines. Length •245 mm., thickness 

 •019 mm. 



