BY E. F. KALLMANN. 665 



earliest stage of development are quite smooth. As an occasional 

 abnormality, one actine is prolonged beyond its point of union 

 with the other, as shown in the text-figure; and very rarely both 

 aetines are thus prolonged. 



HiGGiNSiA coRALLOiDES Carter, vai\ scabra Whitelegge. 

 (PL xxxix., fig.3; PI. xH., figs.1-3.) ' 



1907. Hiyijinsia scabra Whitelegge(60), p.511, PL xlvi., fig.44. 



Diagnosis. — Sponge erect, lamellar, perhaps sometimes simply 

 flabelliform, but more usually subdivided into lobes or separate 

 fronds. Surface closely covered with small conuli arranged 

 somewhat indistinctly in longitudinal parallel series about 1mm. 

 apart. Oscula small, marginal. Dermal membrane very dis- 

 tinct. Internal structure and skeleton-pattern not essentially 

 different from that of the preceding variety Megascleres: (i.) 

 curved oxea in the main skeleton, 770 x 35// in maximum size; 

 (ii.) exceedingly rare styli occurring interstitially, up to 1100 x 

 25/x in size. Special dermal megascleres apparently absent. 

 Acanthoxea 60 to 130/a in length and up to 5/^ in diameter 

 exclusive of the spines; very frequently exhibiting a bulbous 

 dilatation. 



Loc. Off Port Jackson, N.S.W. 



This variety is so far known only from the two original speci- 

 mens-obtained from the same locality — one of which (figured 

 by Whitelegge) is in a dried condition, while the other (smaller 

 and incomplete) is imperfecth^ preserved in alcohol. 



External characters. — Both specimens are erect, substipitate, 

 lamellar, — the smaller one apparently flabellate, divided above 

 into several lobes, the other consisting of much more completely 

 separated (though in part secondarily coalescent) lobes or frond- 

 like branches, from some of which, also, secondary sessile lobes 

 or fronds arise laterally; in both, the thickness of the lamina is 

 about the same, viz , from 6 to 10 mm. The larger specimen 

 measures 110 mm. in height. In the dried condition of the 

 sponge, with the dermal membrane shrunken closely in upon 

 the underlying skeleton, the surface is densely and conspicuously 

 conulose,— the conuli attaining in places a height of as much as 



51 



