506 MR. A. DENDY ON THE WEST-INDIAN CHALININ.E. [JuDC 23, 



Spinosella sororia, var. dilatata. 



Differing from the typical form of the species in its more hixuri- 

 ant and bushy habit, and in the much greater width of the larger 

 tubes. 



Bahamas. 



Spinosella sororia, var. frxjticosa. 



This variety also differs from the typical form in its bushy habit.. 

 The tubes are cylindrical aud somewhat narrow, their walls are 

 thicker, and the venation on the inner surface is not strongly 

 marked. 



Spinosella sororia, var. elongata. 



Differs from the typical form in having the tubes much elon- 

 gated and rather narrow ; moreover they are cylindrical and of 

 approximately the same width all the way up. The margin of the 

 tubes is usually smooth, and the spines on the outer surface are 

 almost entirely obsolete. The venation on the inner surface of the 

 tubes is usually not discernible. 



Spinosella plicifera (? Lamarck, sp.), Duchassaing and Miche- 

 lotti, sp. 



1813. ISpongia plicifera, Lamarck, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. torn. xx. 

 p. 435. 



1864. Tuba plicifera, Duchassaing and Michelotti, Spong. Mer 

 Cara'ibe, p. .03, pi. x. fig. 2. 



Bahamas. 



Spinosella maxima, sp. n. 



Sponge forming great irregular masses, composed of a number of 

 tubes of various shapes and sizes, all united at the base and some 

 united laterally at points of contact. Tubes usually wide, either 

 funnel-shaped or constricted at the mouth, commonly the wider ones 

 are compressed. Greatest height 45 cm., greatest breadth nearly 

 50 cm. Outer surface aculeated by very numerous blunt, spinous 

 processes, of various lengths up to r25 cm. Margin of orifice 

 extremely thin and papyraceous. Colour pale yellow. Texture firm 

 and hard, but elastic. 



Main skeleton very irregular, consisting of a large-meshed reticula- 

 tion of very stout fibres (0'12 millim. thick), and a smaller-meshed 

 reticulation of fine fibres (0"013 millim. thick) which take their 

 origin from the stout ones. Dermal skeleton a network of stout 

 horny fibres, with comparatively small, rounded meshes. 



Spicules entirely absent in the typical examples. 



Nassau, Bahamas. 



There is also a slight variety which differs from the types in two 

 respects — (, 1 ) the spinous processes are represented only by low warts 

 and ridges, (2) there still exist within the fibre a very few vestigial 

 oxea. 



Jamaica. 



