SPONGES. 211 



the Mediterranean form as described and figured by SCHULZE. The connecting 

 fibres are often very irregular in arrangement and very variable in diameter. The 

 histological features are not very well preserved, but the flagellate chambers probably 

 have elongated exhalant canaliculi, as described by Schulze. 



The main fibres may contain many foreign bodies. What can Lendexfeld mean 

 by saying that the fibres are all of uniform diameter and never contain foreign bodies, 

 in direct opposition to the observations of Schmidt and Schulze ? 



K.N. 18 (Gulf of Manaar) ; 1G2 (three specimens) ; 347 (all Ceylon seas). 



Euspongia, Bitoxx. 



Spongiidse of compact structure and with a very fine-meshed skeletal network of 

 slender and fairly uniform horny fibre. Primary fibres, usually containing foreign 

 bodies, radiate towards the surface and are connected together by a close but 

 very irregular-meshed network of more slender connecting fibres free from 

 foreign bodies. 

 Lendexfeld (66) has already recorded several species of Euspongia from Ceylon, 

 viz. : 



E. trincomaliensis, which he identifies with one of Hyatt's American varieties 



of " Spongia officinalis" ; 

 E. irregularis, var. pertusa, which is also recorded from North America, Australia, 



and the tropical Pacific ; and 

 E. irregularis, var. dm-a, also recorded from Madagascar and Australia. 



There are two forms in Professor Herdmax's collection which appear to be cmite 

 distinct from all these. 



Euspongia officinalis, Auctorum, var. ceylonensis, nov. Plate XIV., fig. 3 ; 

 Plate XVI., fig. 5. 



There are in the collection several nice specimens of a bath sponge which obviously 

 belong to a variety of Euspongia officinalis, closely resembling E. officinalis, var. 

 rotunda, of Hyatt (69) and Lendenfeld (66). The latter is one of the American 

 varieties, and there is probably sufficient difference in the Ceylon sponge to merit 

 recognition under a new varietal name. 



The sponge is massive and compact, without vestibules Of the two specimens 

 which I now have before me, the one (in spirit) is slightly elongated vertically and 

 at the same time slightly compressed laterally and slightly flattened on the top, while 

 the base is somewhat constricted and charged with pebbles and other foreign matter. 

 The vents are rather large and conspicuous, scattered on the top and sides of the 

 sponge, from 2 - 5 millims. to 5 millims. in diameter, sometimes more or less prominent. 

 Each vent forms the termination of a long vertical oscular tube, of the same diameter 

 as itself. The surface is thickly and uniformly covered with minute, low conuli 



2 E 2 



