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21. Chalina monilata*. ( P l a t e XLI. fig. k.)
Erect, dichotomously branched; branches circular in transverse
section, round at the ends, solid, 4 to 6 millim. in diameter, swelling
out gently, necklace-like, about every 8 or 10 millim. of their
length ; terminal ones 35 to 85 millim. long, generally broad and
compressed at point of bifurcation. Stem short, no stouter than
most of tho branches. Surface smooth, glabrous. Vents oircnlar,
edges flush with the surface, diameter about 2 millim., few, scattered
irregularly on surface. Texture in spirit compressible, elastic, moderately
to u g h ; dermis tough, parchment-like ; colour opaque yellowish
brown.
Main skeleton irregularly rectangular, fibres very flexible, pale
amber-yellow; primaries about -042 millim. iu diameter, spicules
3- to 4-serial; secondaries about -035 millim. in diameter, spicules
1- to 3-se ria l; primaries -35 to -53 millim. apart at surface,
secondaries -14 to -35 millim. Dermal skeleton—a wide-meshed,
irregular polygonal network of strong fibre, '035 to -07 millim.
thick; spicules numerous, 3- to 8-serial; within its meshes a dense
and regular, usually rectangular, network of very pale horny fibre,
•006 to -042 millim. in diameter; meshes ^05 to '1 millim. in diameter;
spicules of fibre usually 1-serial: fibres of characters transitional
between these two kinds also occur. Sarcode very pale brown,
slightly granular. Spicules smooth, acerate, usually tapering gradually
to fine points, size -1 by -0017 millim. ; more rarely tapering
slightly from centre to about two diameters from ends, and then suddenly
to sharp points ; size •085 by -0021 millim.
Mah. Port Jackson, 0 -5 fms.
Several specimens in spirit, the largest 175 millim. (7 inches) in
height. This species has the general habit of Chalina oculata,
Pallas ; hut the vents are less numerous and regular, the dermis is
tough, instead of being soft and velvet-like, and the branches are
mouiliform, not strictly cylindrical, and the slender acerate spicules
are very different from the stout fusiform ones of 0. oculata. I am
unable to assign this species to any of the numerous probable Cha-
linidse which Lamarck has described under his section “ Masses
rameuses,” &c.t The tough outer layer, the spiculation, or the habit
distinguish it alike from these and all other Chalince with which I
am acquainted.
22. Cladochalina armigera.
Tuba armigera, Duch. de Fonhressin ^ Aiichelotti.
Two dry specimens and one in spirit. Agree well in external
characters with the original figure (Spong. Mer Caraib. pi. viii. fig. 3)
and in the characters of the fibre, except th at the spicules aro far
more abundant (6 to 8 series in the primary and proportionally
* From Lat. monite n ecklace.
t Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. xx. p. 446.
" T
more in the secondary fibres) than is the case v/ith the mounting
which the Museum possesses from Prof. Schmidt. The spicules are
chiefly acerate, tapering gradually to sharp points, characters which
I have already described in those of Schmidt’s specimen (P. Z. S.
1881, p. 114); but here I find also a, consider able number of
cylindricals, in some places with well-rounded extremities ; the size
of both kinds is -08 by -0025 millim., which is almost exactly the
size I gave for those of Schmidt’s slide (I. c. p. 114). On re-examination
of the latter, I find a few of the cylindricals present there
also, and the position of the spicules in the fibre is normally axial
on the whole, and not supeihcial ouly, as I stated in the paper referred
to : I was misled as to these points by the scantiness and badly preserved
condition of the small mounting which represents the species.
Thus, with the exception of the more strongly spicular character
of the fibre, the present specimens do not differ essentially from
West Indian specimens of the species. The diameter of the stem varies
from 5 to 9 millim. (exclusive of the spines), and the spines are strong,
viz. 2 to 3 millim. high. Vents a t intervals of 6 to 12 millim.
along the stem.
Hah. Thursday and Alert Islands, Torres Straits, 3 -7 fm s.; Port
Denison, Queensland, 4 fms.
Distribution. Caribbean Sea (Duch. ¿f Alich.); Florida, 9 fms.
(Sclimiclt).
I t is interesting to have such a well authenticated case of identity
of a West-Indian and an Australian sponge.
23. Cladochalina, sp.
A spirit-specimen, of sub-erect habit, with stout amber-yellow
horny fibre and fusiform aceratcs, uni- or biserial, measuring -28 by
•016 millim. Stem subcylindrical, about 12 millim. thick, without
surface aculeations. I prefer to await more perfect specimens rather
than risk an incorrect determination and description.
Hah. Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 5 -7 fms. ; bottom
sand and shells.
24. Cladochalina nnda. ( P l a t e XLI. fig. i.)
Decumbent. Stems solid, slender, tortuous (branches ? ; none occur
in the specimens), irregularly cylindrical, more or less compressed
from above in places, especially at points at which large vents occur •
generally bullately swollen out laterally at the same points ; diameter
irregular, 2 to 7, or 5 to 9 millim. in difierent specimens. Surface
even, minutely rough to the touch, with occasional low pointed projections.
Vents imiserial, approximately confined to upper surface
6 to 12 millim. apart, circular, opening level with the surface, or
occasionally with edges drawn up, 1 to 3 millim. in diameter, 1 to
3 millim. deep ; walls cavernous, perforated by numerous excretory
canal-openings. Texture in spirit compressible, but resistent, verv
elastic ; outer wall parchment-like, tough ; colour pale umber-brown.
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