124 OKHAMANDAL MARINE ZOOLOGY REPORT PART II 



lotrochota baculifera Topsent [1897]. 



lotrochota baculifera Lindgren [1898]. 



lotrochota baculifera Thiele [1899].' 



lotrochota baculifera var. tumescens Kirkpatrick [1900]. 



lotrochota baculifera Thiele [1903]. 



lotrochota baculifera Dendy [1905]. 



lotrochota baculifera var. minor Hentschel [1911]. 



lotrochota baculifera Hentschel [1912]. 



There is in the collection only a single specimen of this widely distributed and well 

 known Indian Ocean species. It forms a rather thick, irregular crust of a dark brownish- 

 purple colour, attached to a calcareous nodule, the greatest diameter of the specimen 

 being about 30 mm. The specimen was preserved in alcohol and is in good condition. 



The skeleton arrangement and spiculation are typical. The styli measure about 

 0-13 mm. in length by from 0-004 to 0-008 mm. in thickness. The diactinal megascleres 

 are strongylote or have only very feebly developed heads ; they measure about 0-2 by 

 0-004 mm. The " birotulates " are very abundant but very minute, only about 

 0-0125 mm. long. The spicules therefore are decidedly smaller than in Professor 

 Herdman's Ceylon specimens. 



Previously known Distribution. North Australia and Mascarene Islands (Ridley) ; 

 Gulf of Mannar and Ceylon Seas (Dendy) ; Seychelles and Amboina (Topsent) ; Coast 

 of Cochin China (Lindgren) ; Celebes and Ternate (Thiele) ; Christmas Island (Kirk- 

 patrick) ; S.W. Australia and Aru Islands (Hentschel). 



Register Number, Locality, &c. XIII., Adatra Reefs, 25 December, '05. 



36. Guitarra indiea n. sp. (Plate I., Figs. 5a-5b'"" ; Plate III., Fig. 21). 



This very interesting sponge is represented in the collection by eight good specimens. 

 Five of these (Fig. 21) are attached to a branching, parchment-like tube, belonging 

 to some polychsete worm*, along with other sponges, including an Esperella and an 

 encrusting Aplysillid. Two other loose specimens, in the same jar, have probably 

 been broken away from the same association. The eighth specimen (R.N. II. 4) is also 

 loose and comes from a different locality. 



The specimens are irregularly cushion-shaped and tend to surround by overgrowth 

 the object to which they are attached ; they bear a general resemblance, in form and 

 colour, to some species of Chondrilla. 



The largest measures about 28 mm. in maximum diameter, with a true thickness 

 (from the outer surface to the surface of attachment) of about 7 mm. The colour, 

 in spirit, ranges from slate grey (on the surface which was evidently exposed to the 

 light) to pale yellow (on what was evidently the shaded surface). R.N. II. 4 is pale 



yellow all over. 



* Probably Eunice tubifcx, see p. 96. 



