IJf THE LOWER TERTIARY STRATA OF NEW ZEALAND. 227 



species of this group of sponges from the entire geographical 

 area of the Southern Pacific, in which New Zealand is placed, 

 whilst from the Indo- Australian area, which proved the most 

 prolific in species of this group, only 74 species were obtained 

 (Cliall. Ee|). vol. XX. p. 259). From the vicinity of New Zealand 

 itself not a single species of Mouactinellid was obtained by the 

 ' Challenger.' 



II. TETEACTINELLID.E, Marslmll. 

 Family CoRTlciDiE, Vosmaer. 



Candelabra Spicules of CorLicium, Osc. Schmidt. 



Corticium (a). — PL XII. fig. 10. Candelabrum with basal 

 portion of 8 or 9 stout conical rays and the crown or sunuuit 

 of 7 or 8 unequal, stout, straight or curved tapering rays, with 

 slightly inflated summits. The exterior or convex margin of 

 these rays is spined or tuberculate. Length of spicule "05 mm., 

 widthacross "05 mm. ; length of basal rays '018 mm., width '01 mm. ; 

 length of head-rays "02 mm. 



Pi. XII. fig. 11. Candelabrum with base of stout conical rays 

 about 9 in number, the summit of four unequal, slightly curved 

 rays with slightly inflated heads, their outer margins spined. 

 Length of spicule "035 mm., width the same ; basal rays, length 

 •015 mm., thickness "005 mm. ; summit-rays, length '015 mm,, 

 thickness "OOSS mm. This is a smaller spicule than the pre- 

 ceding and it has fewer summit-rays, but it is probable that both 

 forms may belong to the same species. These spicules are much 

 stouter than those of the recent Corticium candelahriim, Osc. 

 Schmidt, and the summit-rays are inflated instead of pointed 

 (Adriat. Spongien. p. 42, pi. iii. fig. 25). 



Corticium (b). — PI. XII. fig. 12. Candelabrum with about 

 15 basal rays and 10 or more in the summit or crown. These 

 latter are slightly incurved, claw-shaped, and terminate in an 

 obtuse point, their convex margins .are spined. The basal rays 

 in this form are also set over with small spines. Length 

 of spicule '045 mm., extreme width '038 mm. ; length of baisal 

 rays "018 mm., thickness "005 mm. ; summit-rays, length "01 mm., 

 thickness '006 mm. The pointed termination of the head-rays 

 and the spination of the basal rays indicate that this form 

 belongs to a species distinct from the preceding. A detached 



16* 



