Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 1.djvu/397

Rh pores; ten to twelve on the half meridian. Bars as broad as the pores. Outer shell regularly octahedral, with eight triangular perfectly regular even faces, separated by eight prominent edges; the meshes circular, regular, about twelve to fourteen on the half meridian, two to three times as broad as the bars between them. Six strong radial spines, about as long as the diameter of the outer shell, three-sided prismatic, cuspidate; their three edges prominent, serrate, spirally twisted. Each spine bears about its middle three strong flattened lateral branches, nearly perpendicular to it, not serrated, and slightly curved.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.13, inner 0.045; pores of the former 0.01, of the latter 0.004; length of the spine 0.12, breadth 0.014.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 274, depth 2750 fathoms.

4. Hexancistra quadricuspis, n. sp. (Pl. 22, fig. 11).

Cortical shell thin walled, covered with short bristle-shaped by-spines, three and a half times as broad as the medullary shell. Pores of the latter regular circular, small; pores of the former three to six times as large, very irregular, roundish, double-edged. Six radial spines, three-sided prismatic, about as long as the shell diameter, with three wing-like, slightly twisted edges, which are prolonged towards the distal end into three curved horn-shaped branches.

Dimensions.—Diameter of the outer shell 0.17, inner 0.05; cortical pores 0.01 to 0.03, bars 0.005; medullary pores 0.003, bars 0.001; length of the spines 0.15, breadth 0.013.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Station 271, depth 2425 fathoms.

Definition.—Each radial spine with three rows of verticillate lateral branches (a row arising from each edge of the spine).

5. Hexancistra mirabilis, n. sp. (Pl. 23, fig. 3).

Hexapitys mirabilis, Haeckel, 1881, Prodromus, p. 451.

Cortical shell very thin walled, three times as broad as the medullary shell. Inner shell spherical, with very delicate, subregular hexagonal meshes; seven to eight on the half diameter. Outer shell octahedral, with irregular polygonal meshes of very different size; on the surface numerous thin accessory radial spines, equal in length to its radius. Six main spines, extremely long and stout, many times longer than the diameter of the outer shell, nearly as broad as the radius of the inner shell, three-sided prismatic, with sharp, prominent, spirally twisted edges; on every edge a great number of thin lateral branches, arranged perpendicularly to it, as long as the diameter of the outer shell, and pinnated by ten to twenty pairs of delicate secondary spinules, biserial and perpendicular to the primary branches. (In the figured specimen the spherical central capsule, between both shells, was well preserved; its nucleus nearly filled the medullary shell. The thick jelly-veil around it was radially striped and octahedral.)