M 



X. Spirastrella transitoria. 



1S84 Ridley pp. 589, 623; PI. LIV, fig. q—q'. 

 1905 Dendy p. 122. 



The type of Spirastrella transitoria is registered in the British Museum '82. 10. 17. 68 a\ 

 it corresponds with my number B.M. 30- Ridley says that this "species appears to be most 



nearly related to the form termed by Mr. Carter 'Spirastrella cunctatrix, variety', from 



Mauritius". It differs from it by the colour and by the shorter spinispirae, which are "extremely 

 concentrated, composed of only one entire bend . . . ."; the spicule is "almost in the form of 

 the stellate . . . ." Since we know how variable the spinispirae of our sponge are, the difference 

 can hardly justify a specific separation. S. transitoria forms, with regard to the spinispirae, an 

 extreme of the various specimens of cunctatrix and bistellata, which on the other side are also 

 allied to decumöens. 



XI. Spirastrella punctulata. 



1884 Ridley pp. 589, 623—624; PI. LIV, fig. p—p'. 

 1905 Dendy p. 122. 



The type of Spirastrella punctulata is registered in the British Museum '82. 10. 17. 35a 

 and bears my number B.M. 28- Ridley identifies it with " Suberites, ? sp. Underscribed. Mau- 

 ritius" of Carter (1882 p. 352). The author states (1. c. p. 624) that "it is nearly related to 



Hymeniacidon angulata of Bowerbank and vagabunda and decumöens . . . ." but it is 



distinguished readily from all by its very short spinispirular spirule". Dendy suggests that it 

 is "perhaps" a mere variety of S. vagabunda. Indeed there is no reason for specifical separation; 

 neither in external appearance, nor in spiculation can I find specific differences. 



XII. Spirastrella vagabunda. 



1884 Ridley pp. 375, 468, 469, 624; PI. XLIII, fig. e — e'. 

 1900 Thiele pp. 71, So; PI. III, fig. 23. 

 1905 Dendy p. 122 — 125. 

 1909 Hentschel p. 384. 



Ridley described his Spirastrella vagabunda after two specimens, found near West Island 

 and Thursday Island in the Torres Straks. Both specimens are now in the British Museum. 

 The former is registered 82. 2. 23. 307 and bears my number B.M. 36; the latter, registered 

 82. 2. 23. 243, has my number B.M. 41- A third specimen Ridley distinguished as 5". vagabunda 

 var. tricomaliensis, corresponding to my number B. M. 24- This variety refers to the "Suberites, ? 

 sp. underscribed. Trincomalee" of Carter (1882 p. 352). 



Our knowledge of Spirastrella vagabunda was greatly enlarged by Dendy, who examined 

 "a number of specimens which, while differing greatly in external form, agree so closely in 

 spiculation" that he was obliged "to regard them merely as varieties of one and the same 

 species . . . ." Dendy distinguishes, in addition to var. tricomaliensis, three other varieties, viz. 

 tuöulodigitata, fungoidcs and gallcusis. Dendy's type specimens (spirit) are all in the British 



