SPONGES FROM PORTUGAL. 207 



right angles into the gastral cavity. The basal rays of 

 all the spicules are directed vertically downwards, the 

 lateral rays laterally and slightly upwards. (2) Triacts of 

 chamber layer : basal ray 0*4 by 0*022 mm. ; oral rays 

 0*34 by 0*022 mm. (3) Dermal triacts : basal ray 0*2 by 

 0*018 mm. ; oral rays 0*17 by 0*018 mm. (4) Dermal 

 oxea, radially arranged and projecting, up to 1*4 by 0*075 

 mm. (5) Dermal club-shaped spicules, radially arranged, 

 only slightly projecting, 0*45 — 0*75 by 0*05 mm. (6) 

 Dermal hastates, minute, 0*07 by 0*002 mm. (7) Oscular 

 rhabds 0*42 by 0*0013 mm. 



Amphiute, n.g. 



This genus belongs to Dendy's family Heteropidce 

 (Dendy, 1, p. 75) as possessing a distinct and continuous 

 dermal cortex, covering the chamber layer and pierced by 

 inhalant pores, and also subdermal sagittal triacts. Its 

 flagellated chambers are sometimes elongated and radially 

 arranged, starting finger-like from large exhalant canals, 

 at other times quite irregular. Of the other three genera 

 belonging to this family (viz., Grantessa, v. Lendenfeld, 

 Heteropia, Carter, Vosmaeropsis, Dendy) Amphiute stands 

 nearest to Heteropia, as possessing large oxea, lying in 

 the dermal cortex, and arranged parallel to the long axis 

 of the sponge, but it differs from Heteropia in having a 

 similar layer of oxea in the gastral cortex. We find a 

 strong resemblance to Amphiute in two genera belonging 

 to the Grantidce, viz., Ute, 0. Schmidt, with a layer of 

 longitudinally arranged oxea in the dermal cortex, and 

 TJtella, Dendy, with a similar layer in the gastral cortex. 

 In proposing the name Amphiute in my preliminary 

 definition (4) of this genus, I had paid more attention to 

 these characters, than to the presence or absence of 

 subdermal triacts. If we accept Dendy's classification, 



