I 50 CEYLON PEAEL OYSTER REPORT. 



Chalina, Grant. 



Chalininse of various external form; not tubular. Skeleton reticulation typically 

 rectangular; fibres usually slender, with much spongin and few but usually well 

 developed spicules. 



Chalina subarmigera (Ridley) Plate X., fig. 5. 



1884, Cladochalina subarmigera, Ridley (16); 1887, Chalinopora subarmigera, Lrnden- 

 FELD (51); 1898, Chalina subarmigera, Lindgren (86). 



This species is represented in the collection by two specimens, which agree very 

 well with Ridley's original description, except that the margins of the vents are 

 slightly prominent and there are fewer spicules in the fibres of the main skeleton. 

 The characteristic external form is shown in Plate X., fig. 5. 



The species was obtained by the "Alert" in Torres Straits and at Albany Island 

 (north coast of Australia), and has also been recorded by Lexdrnfeld from Port 

 Jackson, and by Lindgren from the Coast of Cochin China. 



R.N. 116 (Gulf of Manaar, dry) : 288 (Ceylon seas). 



Chalina obtusispiculifera, n. sp. Plate X., fig. 9. 



Sponge elongated, slender, cylindrical ; may be irregularly branched (? erect or 

 repent). Surface even, very minutely hispid in its present condition. Texture (in 

 spirit) soft and resilient, but fairly tough. Colour pale yellowish-brown. Vents and 

 pores not seen. The largest specimen (R.N. 370) is about 130 millims. long by 

 3 "5 millims. in diameter. 



The skeleton is a well- developed reticulation of pale-coloured horny fibre cored by 

 strongyla. The principal fibres run lengthwise through the sponge, branching as they 

 go, and the branches curve outwards towards the surface ; they are connected by 

 short secondary fibres to form an irregular network. The principal fibres are about 

 0*04 millim. in diameter and contain many spicules arranged multiserially as well as 

 much spongin extending well beyond the spicular core. The secondary fibres are 

 only about half as thick and contain fewer spicules. There is no specially 

 differentiated dermal skeleton, unless we consider the outermost secondary fibres of 

 the main skeleton as such (Plate X., fig. 9). 



Spicules. Cylindrical strongyla (Plate X., fig. 9) ; broadly rounded off at each end, 

 never pointed; nearly straight; measuring up to about - 12 millim. by - 007 millim., 

 lint frequently nmch more slender. 



This species is easily recognised by its external form and blunt cylindrical spicules. 

 Both specimens are more or less washed out and contain numerous foreign spicules 

 and other debris. In R.N. 285 none of the spicules appear to attain as great a 

 thickness as that given above for the type. 



R.N. 285 (deep water off Galle and onwards up West Coast); 370 (deep water 

 outside pearl banks, Gulf of Manaar). 



