228 DR. HINDE AND ME. HOLMES ON SPONGE-BEMAINS 



spicule of similar form to the above occurs iti the dredgings 

 by the ' Egeria ' off the S."W". of Australia at a depth of 

 2479 fathoms. 



PI. XII, fig. 1-3. Candelabrum with about eight basal rays 

 and a crown of six short subequal claw-like rays*, supported ou 

 a distinct neck or pedestal. The rays spined on their convex 

 margins. The basal rays appear to be smooth. In some of the 

 rays axial canals can be distinguished. Length of spicule '031 mm., 

 width of base "03 mm. ; length of basal rays 'OlS mm., thickness 

 "006 mm. ; summit-rays, length '0067 mm., thickness '0035 mm. 



PI. XII. fig. 13 a. Candelabrum with about 12 basal rays, 

 apparently resulting from the quadripartite division of each ot 

 the three normal rays ; the rays are either simple, slightly curved, 

 and obtusely pointed, or slightly furcate at the extremities. 

 The summit consists of four pointed smooth rays springing from 

 a short pedestal. Length of spicule '031 mm., extreme width 

 •035 mm., length of basal rays '015 mm., thickness "OOliG min. 

 The summit-rays are of nearly the same size as the basal. 

 Fig. 14 is of the same character, but smaller. 



Pi. XII. fig. 15. Candelabrum with nine basal rays resulting 

 from the trifurcation of the three normal rays, and about eight 

 or nine summit-rays which are short, claw-shaped, and apparently 

 smooth, rising from a short pedestal. Of nearly similar dimen- 

 sions to fig. 13. It is probable that this form, with the three 

 preceding, may belong to the same species, and with these the 

 form represeuted by fig. 12 may be included, though it is 

 larger and more distinctly spined. Of a similar type to these 

 spicules may be mentioned the form described by AVisniowski 

 (Kosmosu Eoczn. xiv, zesz. vii.-viii. 1889, p. 9, pi. fig. 11) from 

 the Jurassic strata near Cracow, but in this the summit-rays are 

 reduced to three or four. 



Corticium (c). — PI. XII. fig. 16. Candelabrum in which each 

 of the normal basal rays is divided into four stout conical rays, 

 whilst the summit consists of four approximately straight, slightly 

 divergent rays, which are sessile and slightly quadripartite at 

 their ends, each division terminating in a small tubercle. Height 

 of spicule -027 mm., width '031 mm. Summit-rays, length -Oil 

 mm., thickness "0033 mm. The summit-rays of this form are 

 very difl^erent from the preceding, and it probably represents a 

 distinct species. 



Corticium (d). — PI. XII. fig. 17. Candelabrum with the 



