134 OKHAMANDAL MARINE ZOOLOGY REPORT PART II 



in both the Indian Ocean specimens (compare Carter's figures of the Mergui and 

 West Indian sponges), but I do not think there is anything to justify a specific 

 distinction. 



It should be noted that the Okhamandal specimen was first preserved in formalin, 

 which may possibly have assisted in bringing about the eroded condition of the coral 

 on which it is growing. 



Some larger fragments from the same locality (R.N. XXVI. 2), possibly parts of the 

 same specimen, have been completely stripped off from the substratum in the form 

 of a thin sheet about 48 square centimetres in extent and about 1 mm. thick. They 

 have an almost smooth surface, minutely reticulate in places when viewed under a 

 lens, and no visible vents. 



Previously known Distribution. Honduras, Jamaica, Bahamas, Mergui (Carter). 



Register Number, Locality, t&c. XXVI. 2, 10, Adatra Reefs, 25 December, '05. 



49. Suberites carnosus (Johnston) var. 



(For Literature and Synonymy, vide Topsent [1900]). 



This common and widely distributed species is represented in the collection by 

 two specimens of massive, subovoid form, without any indication of stalks, and with 

 no visible vents. One of the two specimens (R.N. XIX. 3) measures about 44 by 

 29 mm. and is compact and solid. The other (R.N. XIX. 2), of about the same size, 

 has been damaged in collecting, and a superficial cortical layer, made coherent by the 

 extremely dense surface-skeleton, has been separated in large measure from the 

 remainder, which seems to have shrunk away or been partially removed, so that 

 the specimen looks like a broken egg with a dried up yolk adherent to the shell at one 

 side only. In both the surface is smooth but very minutely velvety, and the colour 

 throughout (in spirit) is pale yellow. 



The skeleton consists exclusively of tylostyles. In the interior of the sponge 

 these spicules are thickly but quite irregularly scattered, while at the surface they 

 arrange themselves with their apices projecting outwards, not in distinct brushes but 

 in a dense, continuous layer. 



The tylostyles are approximately straight, gradually and sharply pointed, and 

 with well rounded heads only occasionally of the " enormispinulate " type. They vary 

 in size up to about 0-77 by 0-018 mm. 



A direct comparison with a preparation of Johnston's type-specimen shows that 

 the latter has decidedly smaller spicules with a strong tendency to develop a secondary 

 inflation just below the head. The measurements of the spicules in our variety also 

 exceed the range of variation for the species given by Topsent. 



Previously known Distribution. Atlantic, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean 

 and Australian Seas (vide Ridley and Dendy [1887] and Topsent [1900]). 



Register Numbers, Locality, &c. XIX. 2, 3, Vamiani Point, January 5, '06. 



