BY E. F. KALLMANN. 479 



lowermost extremity of the (iiicumplete) specimen, the megascleres 

 are still chiefly strongyla, but they comprise also a quite appre- 

 ciable number of more or less sharp-pointed oxea, and range in 

 size up to 350 by 10/x. The spinispirulse and their more or less 

 rod-shaped derivatives (the latter of which are rather rare) are 

 very seldom, if ever, more than 2/xin stoutness. Microstrongyla 

 were not observed. 



Trachycladus reteporosus, sp.nov. (et vaiT. ?). 



General difu/nosii^. — Branches elongated and tapering. tSurface 

 smooth to slightly granular. Oscula entirely, or for the most 

 part, disposed in longitudinal series. Dermal membi*ane at most 

 50/x in thickness; with closely packed spirula^ occurring only in 

 a thin superficial layer. Dermal pores arranged wholly or in part 

 in subcii'cular sieve-like groups; in an}' case, the distance separ- 

 ating adjoining pores is generally very much less than tlieir own 

 diameter. Skeleton with a relatively very dense axial fune of 

 diameter ecpial to or less than the radial fibres. Radial fibres 

 directed at an angle varying from (rarely less than) 45° to nearly 

 90" to the skeletal axis; never more than about 50ju in stoutness; 

 generally with a well-defined, though thin spongin-sheath. Mega- 

 scleres chief!)' strongyda and very blunt-pointed oxea, the forniei- 

 somewhat the more numerous; only occasionally slightly larger 

 in the stalk than elsewhere; varying in maximum size (in difierent 

 specimens) from 290 x 7 to rarely (in the stalk) 330 x 10/x. 



Zoc-.— Port PhiUip. 



The specimens which I ascribe to this sjiecies exhibit in certain 

 respects considerable variability, so that it is impossible to be 

 certain whether they are representative of several genetically 

 distinct forms or owe their diiiei'ences merely to individual vari- 

 ation. A second difficulty in connection with the species arises 

 from the fact that, in certain of the specimens, the mode of dis- 

 position of the dermal pores approaches somewhat closely to that 

 characteristic of T. digitatus, and in others again, owing to their 

 shrunken condition, the pores are not discernible: in the case of 

 these specimens, accordingly, — since no appreciable difFex'ence 



