470 " THETIS " SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



each one forms a distinct cone about 3 or 4 mm. in height, the sides 

 exhibit a series of puckered ridges, indicating that the sponge 

 possessed great powers of contraction, especially as far as the 

 dermal surface is concerned. In the smaller examples the surface 

 does not exhibit many grooves or plates ; in fact, in one or two 

 cases the epidermal layer is quite smooth, and exhibits only the 

 faintest trace of a groove here and there. The oscula are 

 practically invisible to the unaided eye, and can only be 

 demonstrated by partially drying and then immersing in spirit; 

 the oscula can then be located by the bubbles which issue from 

 them. 



The spicular characters agree with those given by Ridley and 

 Dendy. I have failed to find other megascleres than those 

 described in the type of E. murrayi by Ridley and Dendy. 

 Tylostyles and subtylostyles are apparently absent. Carter's 

 Esperia placoides was obtained in 345 fathoms oS the Shetland 

 Islands. 



Topsent* records the same species from Newfoundland from a 

 depth of about 600 fathoms. 



Judging by the spicular characters and the difference in depth 

 at which E. murrayi and E. placoides occur I regard them as 

 quite distinct species, and they might be so regarded until a com- 

 parison of the types has been made. 



ESPERIOPSIS, Carter. 



ESPERIOPSIS CYLINDRICA, Ridley ayid Dendy. 



(Plate xliii., fig. 6). 



Esperiopsis cylindrica, Ridley and Dendy, Chall. Rep., ZooL, 

 XX., 1887, p. 79, pi. xix., fig. 2, 2a, 2b. 



Stations 41 and 48. 



About twenty specimens of this species were obtained off Wata 

 Mooli and Wollongong in from 52 to 71 fathoms. The larger 

 examples measure about 300 mm. in height and about 200 mm. in 

 diameter ; the main peduncle varies from 50 to 100 mm. in length, 

 and is usually about 10 mm. in diameter. The megascleres agree 

 with the original diagnosis ; the microscleres are represented by 

 abundant toxa, varying greatly in size and curvature ; they range 

 from 0*5 to 1 mm. in length. The chelae are fairly scattered 

 throughout the sponge, and rarely exceed 0*014 in length. 



* Topsent— E6sultats Campagnes Sci, Albert pi*, Monaco, Fas. ii., 1892, 

 89. 



