BRITISH SPONGIAD^. 13 



Type, Spongionella pulchella, Bowerbank. Vol. I, Plate 

 XXXVII, Fig. 380. 



Suborder II. Solid semispiculate kerato-fibrous skeletons. 

 Skeleton partially symmetrical ; primary lines- of fibre 

 radiating from the proximal to the distal parts of the 

 sponge ; fibres containing spicula. Secondary lines of 

 fibres unsymmetrical, destitute of spicula. 



The Bahama sponges of commerce are most of them 

 members of this suborder. 



Halispongia, Blainmlle. 



Skeleton kerato-fibrous. Fibres solid ; primary fibres com- 

 pressed, containing an irregularly disposed series of 

 spicula. Secondary series of fibres unsymn^etrical, 

 cyhndrical, without spicula. Vol. I, p. 307. 



Types, several species of the Bahama sponges of commerce. 

 Vol. I, Plate XXXVI, Pig. 378. 



Suborder III. Skeletons kerato-fibrous; fibres solid, en- 

 tirely interspiculous. Skeleton symmetrical. 



1. Chalina, Grant. 



2. OpMitasponffia, Bowerbank. 



1. Chalina, Grant. 



Skeleton fibrous. Fibres keratoso, soUd, cylindrical, and 

 interspiculate. Rete symmetrical ; primary lines ra- 

 diating from the basal or axial parts of the sponge to 

 the distal portions. Secondary lines of fibre at about 

 right angles to the primary ones. Vol. I, p. 208. 



Type, Chalina oculata, Bowerbank. Vol. I, Plate XIII, 

 Figs. 262, 263. 



