REPORT ON THE MONAXONIDA. 47 



with Carter's Fihularia massa,^ which is possibly also a Gellius. The hair-like spicules 

 in our sponge are, however, much longer than in Fihularia massa, and in the latter they 

 appear to originate in trichite bundles. 



Locality.— ^i&iion 320, February 14, 1876; lat. 37° 17' S., long. 53° 52' W.; off 

 the mouth of the Eio de la Plata; depth, 600 fathoms; bottom, green sand; bottom 

 temperature, 37°'2. One specimen. 



Genus Gelliocles, Ridley (Pis. X., XIL, XLVIL). 



1884. Gelliodes, Ridley, Zool. Coll. H.M.S. "Alert," Brit. Mus., p. 426. 



A distinct and well-developed skeleton fibre is present, containing more or less 

 spongin. Microsclera sigmata. 



Ridley's original diagnosis runs — " Desmacidinidae of erect habit and well-defined 

 form, fibre distinct and compact ; outer surface of sponge beset with pointed eminences. 

 Spicules smooth ; skeleton acerate and bihamate." 



This diagnosis must now be enlarged, in order to admit Gelliodes liclieniformis, 

 Lamarck, sp., and Gelliodes poculum, nobis, and, omitting all description of external 

 form, we may say that the genus differs from Gellius merely in the possession of a distinct 

 and well-developed fibre with more or less horny matter, and from Toxochalina in the 

 presence of sigmata in the place of toxa as microsclera. It is perhaps doubtful whether 

 the last character is of generic value, and whether Toxochalina and Gelliodes should 

 not be merged in one genus, but as no species is yet known whose spicular comjalement 

 comprises both toxa and sigmata, they may at present be kept apart. 



Gelliodes filulata, Ridley (PI. XII. fig. 2). 



1813. ? S]]oiujia ruhispina, Lamarck, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, vol. xx. p. 450. 

 1881. ? Axos fihulata, Carter, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, vol. vii. p. 383, pL xviii. iig. 4. 

 1884. Gelliodes fibidata, Ridley, Zool. Coll. H.M.S. " Alert," Brit. ]\Ius., p. 427, pi. xxsix. fig. 1 ; 



pi. xli. figs, hb-bb". 



The Challenger obtained four good specimens of this sponge in Torres Strait, where 

 also it was obtained abundantly by the " Alert." It is not necessary to redescribe the 

 species here, but we give a figure of one very beautiful specimen, illustrating how the 

 spines on the surface may bear secondary smaller spines, a feature which appears to 

 have been overlooked hitherto (vide PI. XII. fig. 2). 



Locality. — Cape York, Torres Strait, August 7, 1874; depth, 3 to 11 fathoms. 

 Four specimens. 



Habitat. — ? Bass Strait (Carter). Torres Strait (" Alert " and Challenger). 



' Ann. and Mcuj. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, vol. ix. p. 282. 



