: ‘I = ■
f ■
! :
primary skeleton-fiiires ; the canals I have mentioned range in diameter
from about -07 to 4 4 millim. This opening of a considerable
proportion of the ciliated chambers directly into moderately wide
canals agrees with what Vosmaer finds to he the arrangement in
many forms of the other Monactinellid families Itonieridge and Suh-
eritida?, as well as in a few other forms, viz. his third type (‘ Antee-
keningen over Leucandra aspera, 4 4 . Leyden, 1880, and Tijdschrift
Nederl. Dierk. Yereen. v. p. 144 et seq.).
67. lotrochota purpurea.
( P e a t e XXXIX. fig. L ; P l a t e X L II. figs. e-e"".)
Ilalichoudiia purpurea, Boiverhank, B. Z . S. 1875, p. 293.
Dr. Bowerhank’s specimen (from the Straits of Malacca) is evidently
quite young ; the present fine series of specimens, both dry
and in spirit (numbering upwards of twenty), gives a better idea of
the characters of the species.
The external form is usually that of a cylindrical column, narrow,
diminishing gradually in thickness towards apex, viz. from about 15
millim. at base to 4 millim. at apex in adult specimen/ dividing
towards the apex into two or threo subequal branches; it is sometimes
fiattened irregularly near the base ; it occasionally forms a
broad palmate frond or irregular erect expansion, or an irregularly
honeycombed horizontal mass which may attain a diameter of 65
millim. (24 inches). The surface is broken up into a forest of
pointed or ridge-like monticular elevations, 1 -3 millim. apart, 1-3
millim. high. In the typical specimen (dry) the surface aculeations
are only -5 to 1 millim. apart and the same in height. ^ Texture in
spirit rather firm, but soft on surface, tough aud flexible; in dry
state harsh on surface, rather b rittle : colour in spirit very deep
purple, in dry state dark green or pale purple. Skeleton rectangular,
consisting of stout compact primary spiculo-fibres devoid of visible
horny material, 10 to 20 spicules broad, and of similar secondary
fibres 1 to 3 spicules broad. Skeleton-spicules smooth, acuate,
rather squarely rounded at base, tapering to a. sharp point from about
five diameters from end; size chiefly-26 by -0063 millim., a few
in the interior of the primary fibres 4 8 by ’005 to "0095 millim. (in
the type the prevailing size is 4 6 by -0127 millim. and the spicule
frequently increases in diameter from the base towards the centre).
Elesh-spicule birotulate (not equianchorate, as stated by Bowerbank),
shait very slender; rotulae small, umbrella-shaped, with four equal
curved te e th ; length of spicule -016 to -019 millim. Sarcode in
spirit dark purple, granular ; in dry state either dark purple or dark
greenish. Large specimens attain a height of about 150 millim.
(6 inches).
Hah. Torres Straits, various localities down to 10 fm s .; Albany
Island, 3 -4 fms. ; Port Molle, coral-reef.
Distrihution. Straits of Malacca (Bowei-banJc).
The specimens referred to as being greenish in colour are all dry.
SPONGIIDA. 4 3 5
and four of the five agree further in being the only ones of the
series which present an irregular erect expansion or horizontal mass •
a specimen of the erect slender type also shows this colour ; neither
do 1 hnd any thing peculiar in the spiculation of greenish speci-
mens. Iwo of them are the ouly specimens received from Port
Molle the rest are from Torres Straits. But as two flattened speci-
inens from the Amirante Islands, in spirit, also possess a decided
olivaceous green coloration, I conclude it to represent a varietv
uniting green colour with expanded habit of growth. Possibly the
colours may depend on sexual characters, or reproductive condition
as noted by Keller m Chalinula feriilis.
The general form and surface characters resemble strongly those
ot the species named by Mr. Carter Axos anchorata, from Bass’s
btraits, except th a t this is not branched; in this tho colour is given
as brown ; the equianchorate appears to be a modified birotulate,
but the skeleton-spimile is acerate. I t is perhaps referable to
Chondroclcicha, Wyville Thomson, although, unlike the hitherto described
species of th a t genus, it has no second form of flesh-spicule.
68. lotrochota haculifera.
( P l a t e XXXIX. fig. M ; P l a t e X L II. fig. f .)
Erect, formed of subcylindrical lobes, terminating bluntly • diameter
of lobes about 12 millim. Surface chiefly rough, owing to
the projection from it, at intervals of -5 to 1 millim., of blunt
meandering ridges or conical blunt processes, -5 to 1 millim. hio-h;
dermis between eminences smooth, glabrous (in parts smooth patches
ot some extent). Texture in spirit soft to touch, hut very slightly
compressible and elastic; colour very dark crimson (almost black).
Mam skeleton forming somewhat irregular and wide meshes (-4
to -6 milhm. across) ; consisting of stout compact primary spicular
hbres running approximately a t right angles to the surface, about
12 to 15 spicules broad, and of similar secondary fibres, vertical to
the former in general direction, often meeting them in curves, about
10 spicules broad. Sarcode purple, stained diffusely and also
coloured by the presence of very abundant dark purple colls. Dermal
skeleton formed by summits of primary and by uppermost
secondary fibres, and by long compact tracts of cylindrical spicules
which traverse the intervening spaces.
Spicules (1) Smooth acuate, rather suddenly curved, base well
rounded, tapering to a sharp point from about four diameters from
apex, or to blunt point from about diameters from tho apex •
millim.: forms the main skeleton-fibre!
fe) Smooth, cylindrical, straight, ends well rounded; size -22 to -28
by -0063 millim.: lies loose in dermis. (3) Birotulate, shaft slender,
heads about -003 millim. across; teeth four in number, bent inwards
umbrella-like; length -016 millim.
Hab. Port Darwin, between tide-marks; bottom mud and rock.
The specimen consists of an irregular horizontal mass about 40 by
2 f 2
M ii:
l; I
:A.