Page:Scientific results HMS Challenger vol 18 part 2.djvu/122

998 The genus Microcubus is derived from its ancestral form Acrocubus by development of a third horizontal ring, which lies in the equatorial plane, parallel to the upper mitral and the lower basal ring. Whilst these latter are both bisected by the complete vertical sagittal ring, the equatorial ring is complete, and connected at the poles of the sagittal axis with the principal ring, and at the poles of the transverse axis with the frontal ring. Therefore the shell exhibits not eight large gates as in Acrocubus, but twelve, viz., four horizontal gates (two superior mitral and two inferior basal), four upper vertical gates (between the mitral and the equatorial ring), and four lower vertical gates (between the basal and the equatorial ring).

1. Microcubus dodecastoma, n. sp. (Pl. 94, fig. 9).

All twelve gates simple, irregularly ovate or pentagonal. Frontal ring on the sides concave, constricted by the equatorial ring. All rings curved, armed with short irregular thorns. No larger basal spines.

Dimensions.—Length of the shell 0.13, breadth 0.15.

Habitat.—Central Pacific, Stations 271 to 274, depth 2350 to 2750 fathoms.

2. Microcubus pentacircus, n. sp.

All twelve gates simple. Frontal ring on the sides convex, not constricted by the equatorial ring. All rings tuberculate, with irregular roundish knots. No larger basal spines. Similar to the preceding species; but the five rings are much thicker and tuberculate (not thorny); the twelve gates are therefore relatively smaller.

Dimensions.—Length of the shell 0.1, breadth 0.12.

Habitat.—Fossil in Barbados.

3. Microcubus zonarius, n. sp. (Pl. 94, fig. 8).

All twelve gates simple, ovate. Frontal ring on the sides convex, not constricted by the equatorial ring, nearly twice as broad as long. All rings thorny, very thin, except only the broad angular sagittal ring. No larger basal spines.

Dimensions.—Length of the shell 0.08, breadth 0.15.

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

4. Microcubus quadrupes, n. sp.

All twelve gates simple, square. Frontal ring square, not constricted by the equatorial ring. All rings smooth, quadrangular. Basal ring with four short vertical conical feet, two of which (right and left) are inferior prolongations of the frontal ring, and arise from the lateral corners of the