GEODIA ATAXASTRA. 



79 



The other protruding rays, away from the umbihcus, have moi*e or less circular 

 transverse sections, about 2.5 mm. in diameter, and generally bear four or five 

 spines. The measurements of the sterrasters given by Sollas and Thiele arc 

 77.5 or 90 by 77.5 by 58 and 75 by 65 [x respectively. In the type of Sollas 

 examined by me the sterrasters measure 84-92 by 70-80 by 61 [x. 



This sponge was labeled Acc. No. 31982, Cydonium japonicum, Japan, and, 

 as seen from the above description, although very similar to the sponges described 

 by Sollas as Cydonium japonicum and by Thiele as Geodia japonica in many 

 respects, appears to differ from them very considerably in others. The most 

 important of these apparent differences are the presence of large styles, large, 

 slender amphioxes, minute dermal styles, mesoproclades, and minute dermal 

 anaclades in the "Albatross" specimen and the absence of any reference to 

 them in the descriptions of Sollas and Thiele. If these differences were real I 

 should not consider these sponges the same species. Since, however, I have 

 found large slender amphioxes and styles and also minute dermal styles in the 

 type of Sollas, the differences due to these spicules not being mentioned in the 

 descriptions of Sollas and Thiele in reality do not exist. It is different, how- 

 ever, with the mesoproclades and the minute dermal anaclades, which I failed 

 to find in Sollas's type. Since, however, these spicules protrude beyond the sur- 

 face and are, in much worn specimens, broken off and lost, and since, judging 

 from the descriptions given by Sollas and Thiele and from the type examined 

 by me the specimens at their disposal had been much worn, I do not think 

 their presence in the "Albatross" specimen and their absence in Cydonium 

 japonicmn Sollas and Geodia japon ica Thiele sufficient for systematic distinction. 

 For this reason and on account of the great similarity of these sponges in every 

 other respect, I consider them all as belonging to the same species. 



I establish this species for eight specimens in spirit from Perico Island, 

 Panama. It is characterized by the possession of ataxasters, and to this the 

 specific name refers. Seven of the specimens are similar and have narrow 

 anatriaene-cladomes : for these I establish the var. angustana. One is some- 

 what different and has broad anatriaene-cladomes : for this I establish the new 

 var. latana. 



Geodia ataxastra, sp. nov. 



angustana, var. nov. 



Plate 43, figs. 9-25, 28-38; Plate 44, figs. 1-12, 14-49. 



Plate 43, figs. 20, 27; Plate 44, fig. 13. 



