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Show 110 ZOOLOGICAL C O L L E C T I O N S M A D E D U R I N G [Jan. 4, sometimes giving somewhat the appearance of an Aply sin a-fibre to it; generally with a fine dark axial line (rarely seen in the dry specimen); transparent, pale yellow; diameter "006334 to "038 millim. in the spirit, "006334 to "057 in the dry specimen. Parenchyma brownish yellow, granular, subopaque in the spirit specimen ; apparently represented by shreds of almost colourless transparent material, carrying small and large foreign bodies, in the dry one. Examined. In spirit in the dried state, and by mounting in balsam. Hab. Tom Bay (Trinidad Channel, off chief island of Madre-de- Dios archipelago), in S.W. Chili, 0-30 fathoms, on ldmonea {Dr. Coppinger). " Southern Seas " {Peron et Lesueur, apud Lamarck1). Obs. Advantage has been taken of the discovery of a good spirit specimen to give the characters of the sponge in full, as Lamarck's description is insufficient. Order RHAPHIDONEMATA, Carter. C H A L I N A COPPINGERI, sp. n. (Plate X. fig. 2.) Sponge suboval, slightly compressed ; sessile by elongate base. Colour bright amber-brown. Texture very elastic and soft. Surface almost smooth. A single round vent on one side, 3 millims. in diameter, penetrating deeply. Pores ? Skeleton Chalinoid, very regular. Main primary fibres running at right angles to surface, from which they project by sharp points by "088 to "32 millim., spicu-lated throughout with two or three series of axially placed spicules ; diameter of fibre "07 to "089 millim. Secondary fibres at right angles to the preceding, and of about the same diameter; spicula 1-serial; both kinds of a pale amber-colour, very distinctly laminated. A young, intermediate series of fibres, parallel to each of the preceding, occupies the wide spaces which exist between them, containing one series of spicula; diameter of fibre "006334 to "03167 millim. Dermal skeleton of same general structure as main skeleton, the intermediate fibres form smaller and less regular meshes. Spicules slender, smooth, acerate, straight or slightly curved, tapering to sharp points from near to the ends, average maximum size -1013 by "0025 millim.; sarcode transparent, almost colourless, with scattered spicula. Examined. In spirit and by mounting in balsam. Flab. Victoria Bank2, off S.E. Brazil, 39 fathoms ; growing on an erect calcareous Polyzoon. One specimen. Obs. This Sponge is of the shape, and about two thirds the size, of a hazel-nut; it has lost most of its sarcode, but is otherwise well preserved. The M S . species C. argus, Schmidt, from Florida, resembles it very closely in microscopic characters ; but the fibre is 1 Loc. cit. snprh. 3 This bank is not marked in the ordinary maps ; its position is lat 20° 42' S . \c\r\a .T7° 9W W r |