210 DE. HTNDE AND MU. HOLMES ON SPONGE-EEMAINS 



Esperlopsis (d). — PI. X. figs. 27, 28, 29. Stout equianchorate, 

 lateral palms curved, mai-gins revert, rounded below, tubercles 

 elongate, anterior palms tongue-shaped. Length of spicule 

 •11 mm., of palms "043 mm., width of same '047 mm., thickness 

 of shaft '014 mm. This is one of the largest equianchorates 

 known. Forms similar, but somewhat smaller, occur in Esperi- 

 opsis pulcliella, Eidley and Dendy (Chall. Eep. vol. xx. p. 85, 

 pi. xix. figs. 9 «, V), from the south-west of New Guinea, depth 

 140 fathoms. Figs. 27, 29 represent front views, and fig. 28 is 

 a side view of this form. 



From the above descriptions it may be concluded that at least 

 four species of Esperiopsis are present in the Oamaru material. 

 The skeletal spicules in the recent species are acuate or styli- 

 form, and very similar corresponding forms are abundant in the 

 fossil deposit. 



InequiancTiorate Flesli- Spicule o/" Cladorhiza, Sars. 



CladorJiiza Ilaasti, n. sp. — PI. X. fig. 35. Sj)iciile tridentate, 

 one end much larger than the other ; at the large end three pro- 

 minent teeth — the lateral extending obliquely outwards, and the 

 anterior projecting forward ; shaft curved, strongly alate, the 

 alse widest near the upper end, and gradually tapering ; at the 

 small extremity the shaft is curved, so tliat it becomes at right 

 angles to the main portion, and at the end there is a small 

 triangular tubercle from which three compressed teeth are 

 given off", they are subequal and with a small notch ac their 

 summits. Length of spicule '043 mm., of the larger end 

 •013 mm., width of large end from apex to apex of lateral teeth 

 •035 mm., greatest width of shaft '02 mm., width across teeth 

 at small end *015 mm. In general form this spicule resembles 

 the flesh-spicules of Cladorhisa, Sars, and it probably represents a 

 new species, which may be termed G. Haasti, in memory of tlie 

 late Sir J. v. Haast, to whom we are indebted for a supply of 

 the Oamaru material. This form approaches nearest to the 

 flesh-spicules of C. tridentaia^ Ridley and Dendy (Chall. Rep. 

 vol. XX. p. 95, pi. xxi. figs. 20 a, h, c), but it is little more than 

 half the size, the alse are more tapering, and the larger tubercle 

 is pointed. The recent species is from diatom ooze, near the 

 Crozet Islands, at a depth of 1600 fathom>^. 



The recent species of Cladorhza are distinctively deep-water 

 forms, ranging in depth to 3000 fathoms ; the species referred to 



