ri.ATE LXXXVIK. ^jOO 



ISODICTVA VAEIANS, J^OIVevhwil/,-. 



Ilalichontlria ciiierea, Jolinston. Mon. Brit. SpongiadiC, vol. 



ii, p. 281. 



PLATE LXXXVIII. 



Sponge ramose, pedicle short, brandies slender, cylin- 

 drical, terminating liemispherically, dividing diclioto- 

 mouslyor tricliotomonsly; surface even, mimitely hispid. 

 Oscula small, slightly elevated, usually arranged in lines, 

 on one side of the branch. Skeleton symmetrical ; 

 primary lines rarely more than unispiculous ; secondary 

 lines nnispiculous ; I'eto rarely more than one spiculum 

 wide ; spicnia siib-fusiformi-acerate, short and stout, 

 with a few short and stout acuate and cylindrical 

 ones intermixed with them. Interstitial membranes, 

 spicula sub-fusiformi-acerate, rather slender. 



Colour. — In the dried state ; light oclireous yellow. 



Habitat. — Shetland : Mr. Baidee, mouth of the 

 Mersey, near Liverpool ; Mr. T. Higgin. 



Ed'anilncd. — In the dried state. 



