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458 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA.
the present form provisionally to th at species, with which it agrees
much bettor than the form which I named A. nervosum (Journ. Linn.
Soc., Zool. XV. p. 496). As to the locality at which S. cancellata
was obtained, wc have no more particular knowledge than th at it
was obtained by MM. Peron and Lesueur. As these travellers seem
to have collected, among other places, on the north coast of Australia,
this fact supports, if any thing, the above view as to its hlentity with
the present species. In any case it will be best to describe the latter
fully Erect, flahellate, clathrous. A short main stem gives rise
to a clathrous reticulation lying in one plane, in which the original
branches are only distinguishable near the base. Eeticulation close,
regular; meshes oval, the longest diameter lying in direction of
long axis of sponge, about 10 hy 5 millim. in average dimensions ;
the* meshes form deep cells, occasionally closed hy a septum of
sponge-substance. The stem, branches, and the bars which complete
the reticulation are oblong in transverse section, with rounded
margins ; hence the lateral surfaces are flat aud the antero-posterior
ones are rounded. Antero-posterior diameter of stem 32 millim.,
lateral diameter 18 millim. ; antero-posterior diameter of the bars
which form the ultimate reticulation about 10 millim., lateral diameter
about 6 millim. A slight tendency to proliferation so as to
form expansions parallel to the main plane of the sponge is shown
by formation of a few meshes on the surfaces of the frond. Terminations
of branches either united by connecting bars or projecting
slightly as roiunjcd lohose ends. Surface in dry (macerated) state
quite even, appearing minutely reticulate. Texture firm, th at of
stem woody ; substance of branches and reticulation rather brittle,
slightly compressible ; colour, in macerated condition, very pale
yellow-browu.
Main skeleton rectangular in arrangement; primary fibres ouly projecting
from surface by the tuft of echinating spicules which terminates
them, compact, about 8 to 10 spicules broad ; distance between
them at surface about -4 millim. ; echinated sparsely in interior,
abundantly near surface of sponge, with tho echinating spicule :
secondary fibres compact, about 3 to 6 spicules broad, about
•3 millim. apart, echinated abundantly with the echinating spicule.
Dermal skeleton consisting of an irregular network with rectangular
meshes, the meshes generally not exceeding’5 5millim. in diameter;
fibre compact, about 10 spicules broad, well echinated with the
echinating spicule. Horny uniting material occasionally distinguishable
outside fibre as a pale yellow transparent substance.
Sarcode? (absent). Spicules (1) Skeletou acerate, smooth, slightly
curved, tapering to sharp points from w ithin about four diameters of
the ends; size -22 by -0127 miUim. (2) Echinating_cylindrical,
spined ; both ends well rounded ; spicule tapering slightly from
base to apex ; the apex about half the diameter of the base ; spines
distributed all over the spicule, rather more abundantly at base
and near apex than elsewhere ; those of the proximal half or one
third of the spicule rather small, straight, sharp, the remainder
longer, curved towards base ; size of spicule -15 hy '01 millim. : scatS
r O N G I I D A . 459
tered over surface of fibres, and aggregated into tufts at the ends of
the primary fibres.
Hah. Warrior Eeef, Torres Straits (apparently from beach).
A single dry specimen .; extreme height 410 millim. (1 6 f inches),
extreme diameter 480 millim. (19-g- inches). This species resembles
A. bilamellatum iu the regularity of its skeleton and the compactness
of its fibre. In outward appearance in the macerated condition,
however, it has more the aspect of the Arabian form nervosum ;
but in this species the frond is only incipiently reticulate aud the .
branches are much stouter. I t differs markedly from both in the
great length of the echinating spicule, almost half as long again as
in those species.
87. Raspailia bifurcata. (P late XL. fig. J ;
P l a t e X L II. figs. I, I'.)
Erect, arborescent ; stem short, 3—4 millim. thick, branching dichotomously
aud frequently, in planes usually at right angles to
each other and at angles of 30° to 40° ; terminal branches pointed,
tapering to points from a thickness at origin of 1 to 1-25 millim.
Stem and branches approximately cylindrical. Surface miuutely
hispid with sharp filiform poiuts, about -3 millim. high and the same
distance apart. Texture (in spirit) of stem and branches hard,
woody, th a t of the tips of terminal branches soft and flexible;
colour of stem and lower branches purple, of terminal branches
white. Main skeleton composed of longitudinally arranged, subparallel
loose bundles of the loug acuates, accompanied by about the
same amount of the acerate, covered and united by a considerable
amount of pale purple tenacious material ; the bundles anastomose
freely by convergence at small angles ; diameter ranging from about
•28 millim. in stem to -05 miUim. in tips of branches ; surface
sparsely covered by the spined acuate scattered over it. Xo distinct
dermis; the surface is echinated at right angles by tufts, each composed
of one or more long acuates ; spicules projecting from a conical
mass of purple tenacious substance. Sarcode very pale purphsh,
transparent. Spicules :—( ! ) Skeleton acuate, smooth, base well
rounded, tapering gradually to sharp points (more rapidly near end);
size about 1-2 by -0127 millim. (2) Skeleton acerate, smooth,’
slightly curved, tapering to sharp points from about six diameters
from ends ; size about -5 to ‘7 by -0095 millim. (3) Echinating
acuate of dermal tufts, as (1), but measuring -022 miUim. in thickness.
(4) Spined cylindrical, tapering graduaUy from well-rounded
base to blunt distal end, thickly and equably spined ; spines fine,
sharp, those of distal part of spicule recúrvate ; size -09 hy -0079. ’
Hab. Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 5 -7 fms. ; bottom,
shells and sand.
The specimen on which the species is based is 53 millim. (2 inches)
high and 24 millim. across. The species much resembles Dictyocylindrus
pilcei, Carter, from Mauritius, in form, but, as wo have
seen, th a t species is referable to Ecliinodictyum.