BY E. F. HALLMANN. 509 



15 to (rarely) 30/x in length, and apparently occurring only in 

 dragniata. In two (dry) specimens, however, the shorter trichites 

 were not observed. The dragniata fiequently take the form of 

 dense roundish masses of trichites, sometimes exceeding 300/x 

 in breadth, which refract the light in such a way as to appear 

 blackish and opaque. 



(iv.)The microstrongyla are seldom less than 10/x in length 

 and 2/x in diameter, but are usually much stouter, and have a 

 maximum size of 20 by 8/x. They are nearly always- slightly 

 curved and more or less distinctly centrotylote. Abnormal 

 forms occur, in which the annular swelling is irregular in shape, 

 excentric in position, or several times repeated, but thev are not 

 very numerous and seldom depart from the normal shape to any 

 considerable extent. 



Allantophora victoriana, n.sp. 

 (Pl.xxx.,figs.4,5; Pl.xxxi.,figs.l-4; Pl.xxxii.,figs. 1-5; Pl.xxxviii., 



figs.l-4;Pl. xl.,figs.5, 6.) 

 Diagnosis. — Sponge erect, either entirely massive or sub- 

 dividing superiorly into separate tapering digitations. Surface 

 slightly irregular, and provided with numerous, fairly uniformly 

 distributed, more or less acuminate conuli. Dermal membrane 

 very distinct; without contained megascleies: usually showing 

 to the naked eye a minutely reticulate pattern due to the mode 

 of arrangement of the dermal pores. Skeleton (in the body of 

 the sponge) consisting of a congeries of similar components, 

 each constructed on the same plan as the entire skeleton of a 

 single digitation. In each component, the main fibres (except- 

 ing, usually, one or a few longitudinally-directed primary fibres 

 occupying its axis) are disposed more or less perpendicularly to 

 the axial direction of the component, i.e., in a radial or pinnate 

 fashion ; and these are joined together by connecting fibres 

 which are almost exclusively confined to vertical planes. The 

 main fibres are relatively very stout (up to over 300/i in 

 diameter), and are composed chiefly of spicules arranged more 

 or less compactly ; the connecting fibres are slender, mostly 

 paucispicular, and composed chiefly of spongin. A few echinat- 



