BY E. F. KALLMANN. 647 



Introductory. — The following description is based upon four 

 of the original examples of the species (viz., those bearing the 

 register-numbers 314, 621, 737, and 879), and an excellently 

 preserved spirit-specimen which is in the collection of the Aus- 

 tralian Museum; the type-examples also are in alcohol, but with 

 one exception are imperfectly preserved. As already mentioned 

 above, two of the original specimens, which Dendy somewhat 

 doubtfully referred to this species, prove to belong to a genus 

 closely I'elated to Tedania. 



External characters. — The sponge (PI. xxxiii., fig. 6) is irregu- 

 larly cake-shaped, somewhat higher than broad, attaining in the 

 case of the largest specimen a height of 65 mm. The surface is 

 slightly uneven, more or less rugose; and is provided, especially 

 in the upper parts, with irregularly scattered, mostly very small, 

 somewhat conule-like elevations, rather variable, in size and shape, 

 but usually more or less papilliform. The undamaged surface is 

 subglabrous. The dermal membrane is moderately thin and 

 fairly tough, without pores visible to the naked eye ^t: even with 

 the aid of a lens, and is everywhere closely adherent to the 

 underlying tissues. The sponge is traversed in a generally 

 upward direction by many main efferent canals, of inconsiderable 

 size so far as regards the size of their lumina, but each surrounded 

 (and thus rendered conspicuous) by a broad layer of somewhat 

 gelatinous-looking collenchymatous tissue. These canals terminate 

 in proximity to the surface; and there are no oscula. 



In alcohol, the colour is pale greyish-yellow to dull white, and 

 the consistency is compressible and resilient, fairly tough and 

 compact, but moderately soft. The colour in life, according to 

 the original description, is greyish, ranging from "very light 

 grey-buff"" to "smoke-grey." 



The dermal membrane contains numerous finely and densely 

 granular, deeply staining cells, generally more or less ovoidal in 

 shape, averaging about 14/x in length by 9/x in breadth. Actual 

 dermal pores were not observed; but (in the case of the one 

 sufficiently well-preserved specimen) thin tangential stained sec- 

 tions of the dermal layer showed fairly numerous subcircular to 



