536 REVlSION^ OF THE AXINELLID^, ii., 



two sizes, respectively about 30 to 60/a in maximal length, the 

 former occurring only in dragmata, the latter in part also 

 scattered singly. 

 />oc. — Port Phillip. 



The species is known now from six specimens, one of which 

 forms the subject of the original description, wliile four in 

 addition have been taken account of in the summary of specific 

 characters furnished by Dendy. The present description, so far 

 as it i-elates to the structure of the skeleton, is based almost 

 entirely upon the sixth, the identity of which with the pieced- 

 ing has been established by comparison of it with a mounted 

 preparation of one of Dendy's specimens. 



External characters. — The sponge may be simply flal)ellifoim, 

 consisting of a single, erect, stout lamella narrowed below and 

 prolonged into a stalk, as, for example, in the case of the single 

 immediately accessible specimen (PI. xxxiii., fig.5),- in which, 

 however, the lamina is not of uniform thickness, but is rendered 

 irregular by a number of rounded hummocks and several low, 

 compressed ridge.s, the latter evidently of the nature of incipient 

 secondary lamellse: this specimen, 65 mm. in total height, lias 

 an orbicular lamina about 50 mm both in height and breadth 

 and from 8 to over 20 mm. in thickness, and a cylindrical stalk, 

 7 mm. in diameter, expanded proximally into a broad disc of 

 attachment. Of somewhat similar, but of less regular form, — 

 and of larger size, measuring 88 mm. high by 112 by 37 mm. 

 horizontally, — was also the original example, described by Cartel' 

 thus: "compressed, expanded, thickish, lobate; margin irregular; 

 stem short, angular, and thick." But more usually, it seems, 

 the form assumed is one of less simplicity owing to the develop- 

 ment of additional lamellae, perhaps both pi'imary and secondary: 

 for the specimens upon which Dendy's account is based are 

 described as composed of "proliferous lamellae about a quarter 

 of an incli thick, springing from a short thick stalk." 



Oscula, unobserved by Carter, are stated to be present by 

 Dendy, who describes them as minute, marginal or scattered; in 

 the present specimen they are certainly absent from the lateral 

 surfaces, and are not distinguishable on the margin,— but the 



