The genus Lychnosphæra, known only by one single, large, and very remarkable species, mainly differs from the foregoing in the development of free radial by-spines on the surface of the medullary shell, and in the free interval between it and the cortical shell; but beyond this the loose spongy framework of the latter exhibits a very remarkable structure, figured in Pl. [11].
1. Lychnosphæra regina (Pl. [11], figs. 1-4).
Medullary shell (fig. 3) with regular, circular, hexagonally framed pores, twice as broad as the bars; from each hexagon-corner arises a radial, bristle-shaped by-spine, as long as the diameter. Twelve radial main spines each as broad as one of the meshes, three-sided prismatic, six to eight times as long as the medullary shell. From their three leaf-shaped (often somewhat denticulated or spirally contorted) edges arise four verticils of lateral branches, each composed of three forked, thin branches. The forked branches of the first verticil end free between the two shells (figs. 2, 3), while the two following verticils are ramified, and, by anastomosis of their branches, compose the loose spongy framework of the cortical shell. On the surface of the latter arise numerous radial (zig-zag-shaped) by-spines. The fourth verticil is terminal, with three shorter, thicker, dentated, simple branches, which constitute, together with the distal apex of the spine itself, a bunch of four terminal spines. The large central capsule completely distends the medullary shell, and forces out by its pores numerous club-shaped herniæ (fig. 1).
Dimensions.—Diameter of the spongy cortical shell 0.6, of its inner cavity 0.4, of the central capsule 0.22, of the medullary shell 0.06; length of the radial spines 0.4, breadth 0.01.
Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 271, surface.
Genus 118. Centrocubus,[[157]] n. gen.
Definition.—Astrosphærida with a single, cubical medullary shell, immediately surrounded by the spongy framework of the cortical shell; from the eight corners of the central cube arise eight primary radial spines, and often others from the framework between them.
The genus Centrocubus and the following closely allied Octodendron may represent a peculiar small group of Spongiommida, remarkable for the regular, cubical form of the medullary shell, which is composed of twelve thin rods, corresponding to the twelve edges of a mathematical cube; from the eight corners invariably arise eight primary radial spines, the branches of which form the spongy cortical shell.
1. Centrocubus octostylus, n. sp.
Radial spines eight, arising from the eight corners of the cubiform, regular, medullary shell, gradually increasing in thickness towards the club-shaped distal end, which is five to six times as broad as the central end. From the three denticulate edges of each spine arise six to eight lateral branches, which ramify irregularly and form by their anastomosis the spongy framework which is of nearly similar structure throughout, and with large loose meshes. The free distal part of each spine is half as long as the enclosed part.