TETRAXONIDA 



331 



consists of a group of three apparently very young specimens, which support Topsent's 

 (1908, p. 33) view that the species is characterized by rapid growth. The smallest is 

 100 mm. high and 1-5 mm. thick, the largest 180 mm. high and 2 mm. thick. The body 

 of the sponge in each case can only be described as incipient, consisting of an incon- 

 spicuous feathery structure occupying the upper third of the stalk, resembling in ap- 

 pearance that of Asbestopliima peniiatiila, Schmidt (see Lundbeck, 1905, pi. ii, fig. i)- 

 The stalk is evidently very quick growing, for it reaches a considerable height before the 

 body even begins to take form, a state of affairs very similar to that in Stylocordyla 

 borealis (Loven) (see Burton, 1928, p. 68). 



Distribution. Graham Land ; Victoria Land ; Wilhelm Land. 



Genus Rhizaxinella, Keller 



Rhizaxinella australiensis, Hentschel. 



R. aiistralimsis ,\lenXsche\,i^o^, p. 397, pi. xxii, figs. 4, 5; text-figs. 27, 28; Burton, 1929, p. 443. 



Occurrence. St. 158: South Georgia, 401-411 m.; St. 175: South Shetlands, 200m.; St. 190: 

 Palmer Archipelago, 93-130 m.; St. WS 225 : Falkland Islands, 162-161 m. 



Distribution. Australia; Victoria Land. 



Genus Stylohalina, Kirk 

 Stylohalina hirta (Topsent) (Fig. 35). 



Amorphina hirta, Topsent, 1889, p. 44, fig. 9 A. 

 Occurrence. St. 283 : Gulf of Guinea, 18-30 m. 



Remarks. The larger of the two specimens is 

 2 cm. by 2 cm. across the base, and i cm. high, 

 massive with very uneven surface in the sense 

 that it is thrown into irregular ridges and depres- 

 sions, and with the surface further thrown into 

 minute tubercles and cerebriform ridges. The 

 skeleton consists only of styli, 078 by 0-014 mm., 

 which are " remarquables par une courbure con- 

 stante bien accentuee a peu de distance de la 

 grosse extremite". 



The external form of the present specimens 

 is very like that of the holotype, except that the 

 surface is not raised into "des projections greles 

 et hispides", although it is minutely hispid 

 throughout. Unfortunately, Topsent says nothing 

 about the structure of the skeleton, but as the two 

 specimens agree so closely in all other respects, I 

 feel sure that the present specimen is conspecific 

 with the holotype of Atnorphina hirta, despite 



- e 



Fig. 35. Stylohyalina hirta (Topsent). Section 

 at right angles to surface, to show the arrange- 

 ment of the skeleton, e, ectosome, 5, sub- 

 stratum. 



