﻿2oS •ENDEAVOVR" SCIENTIFIC RESULT!?. 



principal styli. The other, wrongly identified as Clathria 

 typica. Carter, is anomalous, if its description be correct, in 

 possessing sigmata in addition to palmate isochela? and toxa. 



In none of the species of Clathria which I have examined 

 have I observed unmistakable oscula. 



The following species, of which I ha\ e examined the type- 

 specimens, call for remark:— - 



Clathria (?) chartacca, W'hitelegge,! is an unusual type of 

 sponge for which perhaps a new genus must be established. 

 The skeleton consists of a renieroid reticulation of acantho- 

 styles traversed by multispicular primary lines of spicules in 

 the mid-plane of the sponge-lamina, and by paucispicular 

 secondary lines running oft from these to the surface. The 

 spicules forming these lines are of two kinds, viz., acantho- 

 styles similar to those of the intervening meshwork, and 

 smooth styli of a larger size ; those of the primary lines are 

 chiefly of the latter kind, whilst those of the secondary lines 

 are chiefly of the former. The terminal spicules of the 

 secondary lines are, however, exclusively of the smooth kind, 

 and project considerably beyond the surface, rendering it his- 

 pid. There are no echinating spicules. The meshes of the 

 renieroid reticulation are triangular or quadrangular with 

 sides of a spicule's length usually formed by a single spicule. 

 All the foregoing spicules are distinctly ensheathed in spongin. 

 Slender (auxiliary) styli are sparsely scattered through the 

 tissues, becoming more abundant towards the surface. Micro- 

 scleres are absent. The species is possibly related to the genus 

 Suberotelites, from which it appears to differ mainly in pos- 

 sessing stylote instead of strongyliform accessory spicules. 



Clathria pellicula, Whitelegge,^ which from its description 

 would appear to be a Microciona, is really a Hynieraphia. 

 The description states that the skeleton is columnar "consist- 

 ing of whisp-like multispicular fibres, with little or no 

 spongin." which "are made up of irregularly disposed 

 smooth styli or subtylostyli and accompanied by spined styli." 

 It is further stated that "there are but few spicules between 

 the fibres." I have prepared a number of sections from dif- 

 ferent parts of the type-specimen, but in none can I find 

 columns of principal styli. Of quite frequent occurrence, 

 however, are short strands of auxiliary syli running in various 



1 Whitelegge— Austr. Mus. Mem., iv., 10, 1907, p. 497. 



2 Whitelegge— The Sponges of Funafuti (Austr. Mus. Mem., iii., 5, 189'i, 



p. 327). 



