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sible, readily torn. Colour pale b row n ; general appearance tbat of
soft leatber. Main skeleton composed of multispicular secondary
tracts of loosely aggregated spicules, 8- to 15-serial, placed parallel
to tbe surface at intervals of -2 to -3 milbm., and of primary lines
represented by groups of 4 to 10 spicules crossing tbe intervals of
tbe secondaries, ladder-like, at intervals of about ’3 millim., tbe
spicules composing tbese groups being so loosely associated as often
bardly to be in contact; tbey tu rn to one side at tbe points at
wbicb tbey come into contact witb tbo secondaries, tbus rounding
off tbe angles of tbe otberwise rectangular spaces of tbe. mesbwork.
Dermal skeleton formed by tbe outward projection of slender primary
tufts of spicules, 2 to 4 spicules broad.* Sarcode pale brownish
yoUow, subtransparent. Spicules smooth acerate, slightly curved,
tapering to sharp points from 2 or 3 diameters from euds; size *18
by -007 millim.
Hab. SeycbeUe Islauds, 2 fm s.; Marie Louise Island, Amirante
group, 16-17 fm s .; bottom coral.
This species, by its polyspicular fibre aud compact structure, differs
from most species of Reniera. Indeed the former character would
appear to ally it to Schmidtia; but it is remarkable tbat, probably
in connexion with the thinness of tbe waU and consequent need of
resistance to lateral pressure, it is tbe secondary, and not tho primary,
fibres wbicb are tbe stoutest; possibly it is to the exigencies entailed
by tbe peculiar external form that the whole of the internal peculiarities
are due. Tbe largest of tho specimens, which are somewhat
fragmentary, measures 30 miUim. high by 18 millim. in extreme
breadth.
25. Reniera cribriformis. ( P l a t e L I II . fig. G ; P l a t e LIV. fig. o.)
Some fragments in spirit of a hoUow cushion-shaped sponge seem
worthy of a description, as it bas characters by which it may be
recognized. Tbe wall is *5 to 3 miUim. thick, compact, folded back
at the margin so as to enclose a space below tbe surface. Surface
very even and glabrous, perforated at intervals of 1-5 millim. by
circular vents, *5 to 2*5 milbm. in diameter. Consistence elastic,
ratber firm ; colour pale duU brown. Primary fibres of main skeleton
about -18 millim. apart, vertical to surface, spicules 2-3-serial;
secondary fibre represented by separate spicules, traversing at various
angles the spaces between the primaries. Dermal skeleton a close
mesbwork of irregularly disposed single spicules, not united to form
fibres. Sarcode transparent, almost colourless. Spicule smooth, subcylindrical
acerate, very slightly curved, tapering from near centre
to points of various degrees of bliintness ; size -2 by *007 millim.
Hab. SeycbeUe Islands, 12 fms.; bottom coral.
Tbis species seems to approach R . testudinaria, Lamarck (see
Australian Peport), in tbe tendency of its spicules to assume tbe
cylindrical form.
Carter’s “ Reniera, dark brown ” from tbe Gulf of Manaar (Ann.
& Mag. N. H. 1880, vi. p. 48), differs decidedly from tbis in its
r
colour, and its cylindrical spicule is curved and apparently stouter
than tb at of tbis species.
26. Reniera, sens, lat., allied to crateriformis. Carter.
( P l a t e LIV. fig . L )
Some small dark-brown fragments of a species belonging to the
group Crassa (Penierida?), Carter, to which tbe preceding species is
related, and which is probably connected witb Schmidtia. Tbe
spicules are smooth, slightly curved, subcylindrical, tapering somewhat
to the well-rounded ends ; size *48 by -028 millim. Arrancre-
ment of skeleton as in Schmidtia, viz. massive fibre forming rounded
meshes (except near the surface). Species of this character are
especially abundant in the Alalay Archipelago, whence R . crateriformis
is obtained._ Not knowing tbe external form of the spono-e
I content myself with indicating tbe occurrence of tbis weU-marked
group in this region.
Hab. Providence Island, Mascarene group, 19 fms.
27. Pellina, sp.
I have little doubt of tbe identity witb the species from Australia
described at p. 413 (No. 48) of P a rt I. of tbis Peport, of an erect^
lateraUy compressed, suboblong specimen in spirit iu tbis collection’
45 millim.^ high, 30 millim. in greatest diameter, 14 millim. in
greatest thickness. I t is squarely truncate above and diminishes
sUgbtly ill diameter towards the broken lower en d ; tbo surface is
rather uneven, but the dermal membrane is smooth, thin, and transparent.
Afents chiefly at tbe m argin; round or suborbicular deep
diameter 1 -5 millim. Spicules -33 to *35 by ’019 miUim. Other
characters essentially as in Australian specimen, from which it differs
cbiefly in wanting the short lobes.
Hab. Darros Island, Amirante group, 22 fms,
28. Tedania digitata, Schmidt.
Por synonyms and distribution see tbis Peport, P a rt I. p. 417.
A fine specimen from Mozambique, very different in éxteriial
characters from those described by me from Austraha and Hindostán.
In this case tbe vents are strongly developed, and tbe mass consists
of four superiorly distinct, more or less búllate tubes, witb thin,
smooth margins, 3 -9 miUim. in diameter at their mouths, arising out
of a very irregularly shaped, massive, suberect base, tbe surface of
most of which is broken up into closely-set pits and grooves, about
1-5 millim. in diameter, which are the external openings of the
excretory canals of tbis solid part of the sponge. Tbe colour is
pHe, ratber reddish, brown. Tbe acuate measures -19 by -0095
miUim., tbe tibiella *19 by *005 miUim. AVhile tbe outward form is
ratber th at of Mediterranean specimens, tbe proportions of tbe
spicules agree more closely witb examples from Kurrachee aud
Queensland than with Mediterranean or Port-Darwin specimens.
Tbe spicules of a smaU incrusting fragment from tbe Amirante
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