. 



118 OKHAMANDAL MARINE ZOOLOGY REPORT PART II 



I believe that this remarkable and well-characterised species has only been 

 recorded once since it was first described in the Challenger Report. 



Previously known Distribution. Philippine Islands (Ridley and Dendy) ; Aru 

 Islands (Hentschel). 



Register Number, Locality, &c. III. 6 a, b, dredged off Dwarka. 



27. Axinella virgultosa Carter [1887]. 



There is in the collection one remarkably beautiful specimen, which agrees 

 so closely in its very characteristic external form with the description and figure 

 given by Carter of his Axinella virgultosa from Mergui that I have little doubt 

 in making a specific identification. Carter's description of the spiculation, however, 

 without either figures or measurements, is so inadequate that it is impossible, 

 without referring to the type, presumably in Calcutta, to be quite certain. Un- 

 fortunately, there is no microscopic preparation of the sponge in Mr. Carter's 

 cabinet. 



Mr. Hornell's specimen consists of a large number of slender, vertical, stiff 

 processes, rising up side by side from a thin, encrusting base which measures 

 about 35 by 22 mm. The larger processes are in the middle and measure about 

 20 mm. in height. They are about 2 mm. in diameter at the base and taper 

 gradually to sharply pointed apices. The processes may give off branches, chiefly 

 from their outer sides near the base. They are all abundantly but shortly hispid 

 with projecting spicules. The colour in spirit (after formalin) is almost white. 



Little more than the skeleton of the sponge remains. Bach process consists 

 of a plumose column of short, stout spicules arranged in typically axinellid 

 fashion. 



The spicules are typically stout styli, sometimes becoming oxeote by more 

 or less pronounced sharpening of the inner end. They are commonly a little 

 bent and the outer end is gradually sharp-pointed. I have seen nothing of the 

 subterminal inflation which Mr. Carter says is often present in his specimens. 

 These spicules measure about 0-77 by 0-04 mm. 



Previously known Distribution. Mergui Archipelago (Carter). 



Register Number, Locality, &c. IX., off Dwarka, 15-17 fms., 12.12.05. 



28. Phakellia donnani (Bowerbank). 



Isodictya donnani Bowerbank [1873]. 

 Axinella donnani Dendy [1887]. 

 Phakellia donnani Dendy [1905]. 

 Phakellia donnani Row [1911]. 



This well-known Ceylon species is represented in the collection by a single 

 specimen of the ordinary, pedunculate, cup-like form. The colour in life was, as 



