BRITISH SPONGIAPiE. 381 



mens for examination, from my friend the Rev. A. M. 

 Norman, who also dredged them at Shetland, in 1861. 



They vary in height from four lines to one inch. Seven 

 of them are in the form of a single irregularly shaped lobe, 

 gradually expanding in size upward to the distal termi- 

 nation. The eighth specimen is fan-shaped, having the 

 appearance of three such lobes, which have coalesced by 

 approximation. There is a strong general tendency to a 

 conjugation of the oscula at the distal end of the sponge, 

 in the same manner that we observe in specimens of the 

 best Turkey sponges of commerce before they commence 

 expanding into the cup form. The oscula are distinctly 

 apparent, frequently exceeding half a line in diameter. 

 The central canals of the primary fibres are comparatively 

 large, and appear to be continuous, but they are very 

 variable in their diameter within comparatively a short dis- 

 tance, and a considerable amount of irregularity exists at 

 the points of junction of those of the secondary fibres with 

 the primary ones. Instead of running directly into those 

 of the primary fibres, they frequently divide when they 

 reach it, and run in contrary directions before entering and 

 uniting with it, and sometimes they end in csecoid termi- 

 nations without entering the primary canal at all. 



Dysidea, Johnston. 

 1. Dysidea pragilis, Johnston. 



Halichondeia akeolata, Johnston. 



Sponge. Massive, sessile, variable in form, rarely coating. 

 Surface asperated. Oscula and pores inconspicuous. 

 Dermal membrane nearly obsolete, aspiculous. Skele- 

 ton ; rudely symmetrical ; primary fibres radiating 

 from the base ; secondary fibres more or less irregular ; 

 primary and secondary fibres more or less abundantly 



