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numerous, low, sharp, those of distal half recúrvate towards ba se ;
size of spicule -1 to -14 hy -0079 millim.
Hab. Port Molle, Queensland, from coral-reef.
Both in its external form and in the structure of its fibre this
species much resembles E. hilamellatum; the form, however, is less
definite here, aud the presence of the fine acuate effectually distinguishes
this species. Its turbinate form separates it from E. pylcei and
laciniatum, and its rough outer and inner surface from E. vasipli-
catum, although it agrees with these three in possessing the fine
acnate spicule.
_ The dry specimen which represents it is not completely tu r binate,
hut forms about three fifths of an open cup, not stipitate, at
any rate in its present condition. There is little doubt th a t when
fully grown it would be turbinate, as E. bilamellatum shows traces
of an originally non-cup-shapcd condition (and cf. varieties of
Phacellia ventilabrum). The height is 50 millim. (2 inches), the
extreme breadth of the cup 70 millim. ( 2 | inches).
85. Echinodictyum glomeratum. ( P l a t e XL. fig. A ;
P l a t e XL II. f ig . p . )
Erect, stipitate; base spreading; stem short, branching frequently
at acute angles and in an arborescent manner. Branches
angular, more or less flattened, showing strong tendency to unite by
their edges, forming a dense head, from which the rounded ends of
the hranchSSteiroject to a short distance; maximum diameter of
primary branches 7 to 10 millim., of terminal twigs 3 to 6 millim.
Surface (in present dry state) even, but honeycombed hy the spaces
between the superficial skeleton-fibres; these hear small inconspicuous
sharp points, -25 to 1-0 millim. high, at intervals of about
1-5 millim. Vents ? Texture in dry state harsh to touch, hard,
incompressible, and almost inflexible; colour probably dull purple
in natural state.
Main skeleton composed of compact spiculo-fibre; no horny matter
apparent outside the spicules; spicules about 10-to 12-serial; arrangement
non-rectangular, the meshes rounded, and the primary and
secondary fibres not traceable as distinct fibres beyond one or two
consecutive junction-nodes; meshes -28 to -5 millim. in greatest
w id th ; both primary and secondary fibres echinated at right angles
by an abundance of the echinating spicule. Dermal skeleton composed
of fibre similar in structure to th at of skeleton, but ranging
from 5 to about 20 spicules broad; meshes rounded, from '25 to
about ’7 millim. in width, echinated in same way as the primaries;
the fibre composing the projecting vertical lines is similar in constitution
to th at of the main skeleton, Sarcode pale yellow, transparent
or purplish brown, suhopaque.
Spicules: — (1) Long setaceous acerate, sparse, echinating;
smooth, tapering to sharp points ; size about 2-0 by -0127 millim.
(2) Skeleton acerate smooth, slightly hut rather suddenly bent iii
the middle, tapering to sharp points from about two diameters from
SPONGIIDA. 457
each e n d ; size;19 by -0079 to -25 hy -0095 millim. (3) Echinating
spmed cylmdrical; base with slight globular inflation; tapering
graduaUy to blunt distal end; spines short (the longest about -0016
milhm. long), thorn-like, sharp, shortest at apex, those of distal
halt more or 1 / s recúrvate towards base, distributed equally over
whole of spicule; size of spicule -095 to -106 by -01 millim. (apex
of spicule about ‘005 millim. thick).
Hab. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4 -5 fms.; bottom sand.
A single dry specimen, 70 millim. ( 2 | inches) high by 60 millim.
(2^ inches) in greatest width. The arborescent growth distinguishes
it at once from tho turbinate E. bilamellatum, vasiplicatum
and costiferum, and the palmate, branched E. nervosum, mihi
(Lainarck), the only species hitherto recognized; in fibre-structure it
closely resembles A. hilamellatum, although the spicules are somewhat
srnaller. The much smaller smooth acuate and acerate distinguishes
it from E. laciniatum and pykei.
Echinodictyum glomeratum, var. suhglohosum.
Two dry specimens, consisting of an obsolescent stem, rising at
once into a globular clathrous or honeycombed head, formed by
rapid branching at subacute angles and free anastomosis; the
branches appear to end bluntly on the surface in rough points, at
about the same level (this, however, is perhaps partly due to abrasion
on the shore). Texture rigid, h a rsh ; colour pale brown in
macerated, dark purplish in non-macerated specimen. Spicules :—
(1) Long setaceous acuate, with well-rounded head, tapering to sharp
. point; size about 2-0 by -00127 millim.: apparently echinating the
bases of the primary fibres. (2) Smooth acerate of fibre, slightly
curved, tapering gradually to sharp points ; size -25 by -0085 millim.
to -33 by -0127 millim. (3) Spined echinating cylindrical, with
shghtly indicated head and apex almost coming to a p o in t; spines
numerous, fine, sharp, straight at middle, recúrvate at distal end of
spicule; size -106 to -16 b y -0085 to -0095 millim. Skeleton-fibres
stout, compact, almost straight, sometimes with yellow transparent
margins ; secondary fibres given off at right, or more usually acute,
angles from primaries.
Hab. Torres Straits, 5-10 fms.; bottom sand and coral.
A well-marked variety. The outward form and the almost pointed
spined spicule distinguish this from the typical form. One specimen
measures 40 millim., the other 75 millim. (3 inches) in both
greatest height aud diameter.
86. Echinodictyum cancellatum. ( P l a t e XL fig D •
P l a t e XL II. fig . q . )
F Spongia cancellata, Lamarck, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. xx. p. 456.
The short description of Lamarck agrees so closely, so far as it
goes, with the external character of this sponge, that in default of
information as to the minute characters of the old species, I assign