REPORT ON THE MONAXONIDA, 33 



This species, originally described and figured by Bowerbank (loc. cit.) from Freemantle, 

 Australia, is fairly well represented in the Challenger collection. Bowerbank obtained 

 two specimens, now in the British Museum, both of which are very considerably larger 

 than any of the Challenger examples. The largest of the latter is only about 43 mm. 

 in greatest diameter, while the smaller of Bowerbank's specimens has a greatest diameter 

 of about 57 mm. Both of Bowerbank's specimens are imperfect, the lower surfaces 

 having been very much abraded; hence, perhaps, arises Carter's diagnosis: — "Tubular 

 appendages ' above only,' " ^ which certainly does not apply to the Challenger specimens 

 (PI. VIII. fig. 2). The spicules of the Challenger specimens agree closely in size and form 

 with those of Bowerbank's specimen. 



Three of the examples obtained by the Challenger, including the largest, are of doubtful 

 locality ; the outside label says " ofi" Bermuda," and the inside label " off Bahia, shallow 

 water." Sixteen small specimens, varying from about 6 mm. to about 37 mm. in 

 maximum diameter, and in shape from fusiform to globular, were obtained by the 

 Challenger off the south-west corner of New Guinea, giving a remarkably wide distribution 

 for this species. With the exception of the specimens from off the Azores, the species 

 does not appear to range to any great depth. 



Localities.— Station 73, June 30, 1873; lat. 38° 30' N., long. 31° 14' W.; depth, 

 1000 fathoms; bottom, Pteropod ooze; bottom temperature, 39° "4. A number of broken 

 fragments of tubes and portions of the outer rind of the body, with a yellowish, 

 amorphous mass, containing loose spicules, adhering to them. 



Station 188, September 10, 1874; lat. 9° 59' S., long. 139° 42' E.: off south-west 

 corner of New Guinea ; depth, 28 fathoms ; bottom, green mud. Sixteen specimens. 



Habitat. — Freemantle, Australia (Bowerbank); Arafura Sea, north-west coast of 

 Australia (Ridley); off south-west corner of New Guinea (Challenger); (1) off Bahia 

 (Challenger) ; west of Azores (Challenger). 



Rhizochalina putridosa (? Lamarck, sp.) (PL VIII. figs. 5, 5a ; PI. IX. figs. 1, 7). 



1815. ? Alcyonium putridosum, Lamarck, M^m. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, vol. i. p. 168. 



1886. i?/2Zzoc7iaZtwaj>Mfri(Zosa, Ridley and Dendy, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, vol.xviii.p. 332. 



Sponge (PI. VIII. fig. 5) massive and lumpy, subspherical. An upper and a lower 

 half are distinguishable ; from the upper half arise very numerous' short fistulas, 

 scattered irregularly over the surface and all pointing more or less vertically upwards, 

 not radiating in aU directions as in the preceding species. Lower half almost without 

 trace of fistulas. Fistulse nearly all broken off close to the surface ; usually (when 

 perfect) short, broad, finger-like (PI. VIII. fig. 5a), closed at the ends, measuring about 

 25 mm. in length by 6 to 12 mm. in width. Size of body, 93 to 137 mm. in diameter. 

 Colour in spirit, pale yellow. Texture, solid and very dense throughout, penetrated hy 



' Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, vol. x. p. 121. 

 (zooL. CHALL. EXP. — PART LIX. — 1887.) Nnn 5 



