1908.] CAPE VERDE ISLANDS SPONGES. 777 



typical of the var. massa ; the total width of this specimen is 

 2"3 cm. and its height is much less. Another specimen, which 

 consists of a single Leucon person, is elongated and has the form 

 typical of the var. tiiha ; its height is 10 mm. and its maximum 

 Avidth 4 mm. The other three specimens are intermediate in size 

 and shape between the foregoing specimens, and consequently are 

 of a form intermediate between the two varieties of the species 

 which were established by Polejaeff. 



The general anatomy and skeleton of my specimens agree with 

 the descriptions given by Polejaeff and v. Lendenfeld ; the only 

 peculiarity is in the oxeote spicules. The majority of these 

 resemble the corresponding spicules of the specimens hitherto 

 described, i. e., they are small spindle-shaped or rather cylindrical, 

 sharply pointed, straight or slightly curved, and very variable in 

 size, reaching a maximum length of 0*3 mm. and a maximum 

 diameter of 0*005 mm. A minority of the oxea are, however, 

 peculiar in that they are shorter and wider in proportion to their 

 length than are the ordinary spicules, and are also markedly 

 flattened and more or less arrow-headed ; the arrow-head is some- 

 times very conspicuous. 



The characters by which Polejaeff endeavoured to divide this 

 species into two varieties, titha and massa, do not appear to be 

 constant. In external form I have, as stated above, three speci- 

 mens which are intermediate between the varieties. The other 

 two characters on which Polejaeff established his varieties are as 

 follows : — 



(a) Apical rays of gastric quadriradiates not longer than 



0*06 mm. in tuha, but reaching 0"1 mm. in tnassa. 



(b) Oxeote spicules not longer than 0'15 mm. in massa, but 



reaching O'o mm. in tuba. 



Now with regard to (a) I find that in my specimen, which is of 

 the titba external form, the apical rays in question reach a length 

 of O'l mm., and this is not exceeded in any of the other specimens. 

 "Whilst with regard to (b) the oxea reach much the same maximum 

 length in all the specimens — viz. about 0"3 mm. — and are if 

 anything rather shorter in my specimen of fii,ba than in the 

 others. For these reasons I do not think it desirable to retain 

 the two varietal names. 



Distribution. Bermuda [Polejae-ff^) ; East coast of Australia 

 [v. Lendenfeld); CapeYerde Islands {Crossland Collection). 



Leucandra crosslandi, sp. n. (Plate XL. fig. 8 & text-fig. 165.) 

 A large number of fragments and several complete specimens 

 of this species were dredged by Mr. Crossland from a depth of 

 15 to 20 fathoms near Boa Yista Island. 



The sponge (Plate XL. fig. 8) is pear-shaped, is from twice 

 to three times as long as it is broad, and usually several Leucon 

 individuals grow together attached to one another at a common 

 base. The individuals grow to a size of 1-5 cm. by 0-8 cm. Both 

 external and internal surfaces of the body are I'ough. On large 

 .specimens the oscula have a diameter of 1-5 mm. ; there is never 



