HYALONEMA (HYALGNEMA) AGASSIZL 
185 
In the spicule-preparations of the basal part of this form numerous small, 
hollow, cross-like siliceous bodies were observed. The smallest of these are about 
20 n in diameter, and consist of four somewhat conic rays, 10 ^ long, about 16 m 
thick at the base, and hollowed out by cylindrical axial canals about 8 m wide. 
These smallest crosses are connected with the large normal stout-rayed tetractines 
above described by an uninterrupted series of spicules intermediate in size. 
The axial canals of these spicules are usually 5-9 n wide. The axes of the rays 
of the full-sized, stout-rayed basal spicules are occupied either by a fine axial 
thread, or a more or less widened axial canal. The broadest axial canals in these 
spicules were about 9 /x in diameter. In cylindrical, terminally rounded rays 
these axial canals are closed at the end; in conical and pointed rays they usually 
open out freely. 
The wide axial canals are regular or irregular. The regular ones are either 
cylindrical throughout or widened distally. Distal widenings occur both in the 
terminally open and in the terminally closed axial canals. The irregular ones 
are of two kinds. In some the axial canals bear short, irregular, branch-like 
diverticula, which usually arise near the distal end, and are vertical or oblique, 
directed outward or, more rarely, inward. Others possess backwardly directed 
diverticula, which arise from their basal part and occupy interstices between 
adjacent silica-layers. 
It is obvious that the small forms of this series are to be considered either 
as the young of the full-sized ones, or as the last remnants of full-sized ones which 
have in great part been dissolved. The general appearance of the whole series 
seems to me to be in favour of the latter alternative. I accordingly assume that 
the stout acanthophores with wide axial canals are spicules in process of decay 
(solution), that this decay or solution is the further advanced the smaller the 
spicules are, and that the dissolving agency acts on the silica-layer both from 
the inner (the axial threads) and the outer side (the surface). No doubt the sea- 
water can and does dissolve the silica of the spicule in this way when the protect- 
ing organic or semiorganic sheath is lost, but it must not be overlooked that the 
living sponge-tissue of the sponge itself might possibly also attack and dissolve 
the silica in spicules which have become superfluous, and use the material thus 
obtained for building up other spicules. 
The spheres of form A (Plate 45 , figs. 26-34) are irregularly nodular or 
spherical and measure 18-57 n in diameter. Most of them are smooth (Plate 46 , 
figs. 26-29, 33, 34), some more or less spiny (Plate 45 , figs. 30-32). They consist 
of concentric layers of silica. The centre around which these silica-layers are 
