CHAP. X.] 



CONTINUITY OF THE CHALK. 



483 



and he referred the group to the Polyzoa. When 

 Mr. Toulmin Smith studied the Ventriculites, the 

 Hexactinejlidse — the sponges with six-rayed meshes 

 or spicules — were practically unknown, though there 



Fig. 



-Ventriculites simplex, Toulmin Smith. "^ Once and a half the natural size. 



were already a few examples in museums. One of the 

 first results of deep-sea dredging was the discovery 

 that the chalk-mud of the deep sea is in many places 

 literally crowded with these ; and when we compare 



ii2 



