451 
lying paralell with the surface in fibres splitting out and Crossing 
each other so as to form a polygonal network; also here, however, 
are isolated spicules veiling the picture. 
Spicules. Oxea (fig. 9), slightly and evenly curved, typically 
in the middle; from here the spicules taper very evenly to the 
very sharp points. Dimensions: 150—500 X 8—14 /<; typically 
450 X 12 /( . 
The species comes very near to H. panicea^ but is clearly dis- 
tinguished by the well defined spicular-fibres, especially those of 
the dermal-membrane. 
Halichondria panicea Johnst. 
This cosmopolitan sponge we have from two localities: Bay of 
Islands. The coast, under stones. 1/1.1915. Several damaged spec- 
cimens. Olf New Plymouth. 8 fathoms. Hard bottom. 12/1.1915. 
One 
Renieva pulchevvima nov. spec. 
(Fig. 10.) 
Colville Channel. 35 fathoms. Sand, mud. 21/XII.1914. 
specimen. 
Erect, branched, hollow cylinders, 30 mm high, ca. 4 mm in 
diameter; wall only ca. 0,5 mm thick. Oscula, ca. 1 mm in dia¬ 
meter, at the top of the cylinders. Dermal-membrane 
thin, supported by a beautiful dermal reticulation of 
spicules. If the sponge be held against the 
light, one may easily with a pocket-lens 
see the fibres of the main skeleton running 
in the wall of the cylinders from base to 
summit. 
The skeleton consists of 1. the main 
skeleton, just mentioned, composed of long¬ 
itudinal, stout, polyspicular fibres, every now 
and then connected by fibres at acute angles, 
and by unispicular fibres at every angle; 
main fibres 150—200 p thick and ca. 300 
p apart; and of 2. the before mentioned 
vigAO. Reni- dermal-skeleton; this consists of spicules 
era pnicher- forming a Renieroid reticulation with irre- 
rima nov. 
spec. Oxea. gular meshes; the layer is very thin. 2y* 
Fig 11. Reni- 
era scypha- 
noides Lam. 
Oxea. 
