THE SPONGES OF FUNAFUTI WHITELEGGE. 327 



The skeleton consists of large strongylote spicules, which run 

 more or less vertically from the base to the surface, either singly 

 or in twos or threes, as they approach the surface they converge, 

 forming whisp-like bands from O'l toO'2 mm. wide ; at the surface 

 they form the main support of the aculeations. 



In addition to the large strongyla there are numerous small 

 oxeote spicules irregularly distributed throughout the body of the 

 sponge; they are scarce or 'absent from the dermal membrane, 

 and from the aculeate processes. Sigmata of about one and a 

 half turns are abundant and evenly distributed in the dermal 

 membrane, internally they appear to be confined to definite tracts. 



Megasclera (a) Straight, elongate, round ended strongyla 

 gradually tapering from the centre to the extremities. 



Size About 1-6 by 0-02 mm. 



(b) Oxea, small, slender, straight, tapering gradually at each 

 end to acute points. 



Size About 0-14 by 0-0035 mm. 



Microsclera Very slender sigmata of about one and a half 

 turns ; length about 0-02 mm. 



Deep water in the lagoon. 



This species is allied to Gellius carduus in outward form, the 

 spicules are, however, very much larger than in that species. 



CLATHRIA PELLICULA, sp. nov. 



Sponge incrusting, from 1 to 1 '5 mm. in thickness; surface 

 minutely conulose, with numerous pores in groups of from four 

 to six. Oscula scattered, circular, about 0'25 mm. in diameter. 



Colour in spirits yellowish-gray. 



Skeleton columnar, consisting of whisp-like multispicular fibres, 

 with little or no spongin ; they are made up of irregularly dis- 

 posed smooth styli or subtylostyli and accompanied by spined 

 styli ; there are but few spicules between the fibres. The dermal 

 skeleton consists of rather distant radiating tufts of smooth styli. 



Megasclera (a) Smooth styli or subtylostyli of the fibres, 

 gradually sharp pointed, the slightly enlarged basal extremities 

 of the larger spicules often minutely spinose. 



Size About 0-23 by 0-0042 mm. 



(b) Smooth slender styli or subtylostyli of the dermal tufts. 

 Size Variable from 0-25 to 0-4 by 0035 mm. 



(c) Echinating styli, straight, gradually tapering to sharp 

 points, spines irregularly disposed, strong, and recurved, the 

 apical fourth of the spicule almost smooth. 



Size 0-1 by 0-008 mm. 



