EEPOET Oi\ THE MONAXONIDA. 49 



spreading lamina arise large funnel-sliaped calices with wide mouths. The basal lamina, ia 

 the case of the single specimen in the collection, covers a large, but very uneven surface ; 

 it averages about 4 mm. in thickness ; this is also the thickness of the walls of the 

 calices. The specimen bears in all five calices of various sizes, the largest measuring 

 about 50 mm. in height, and 25 to 62 mm. in greatest width of mouth (which is com- 

 pressed). Colour in spirit brownish-yellow. Texture soft, spong)^, but very tough and 

 fibrous. Surface very uneven but fairly smooth. More or less numerous, very small 

 openings on the inside of the calices appear to be the true oscula. 



Skeleton. — (a) Main; a reticulation of stout horny fibre, cored sparsely by oxeote 

 spicules arranged uniserially. {b) Dermal ; a similar but much closer reticulation of stout 

 horny fibre, with very few axial spicules, but echinated very abundantly by tufts of oxea 

 which project outwards. 



Spicules. — (a) Megasclera ; short, fusiform oxea, usually slightly curved, sharply 

 and gradually pointed, measuring about 0'2 by 0'014 mm. {h) Microsclera ; rather large 

 and slender, much curved sigmata, not very abundant, measuring about 0'12 by 

 0-004 mm. 



This interesting species is distinguished chiefly by its remarkable external form. It 

 resembles a Chalinine sponge, described by Ridley under the name Tuba (Sijjhonochalina) 

 bullata,^ but is distinguished as regards external appearance by the absence of the 

 numerous sharp conuli on the surface, and microscopically, of course, by the presence of 

 the sigmata. Dr. E. von Lendenfeld also obtained a specimen of Gelliodes poculum 

 from the east coast of Australia. 



Locality. — Port Jackson, 30 to 35 fathoms. One specimen. 



Genus Toxochalina, Ridley. 



1884. Toxochalina, Eidley, Zool. ColL H.M.S. "Alert," Brit. Mus., p. 402. 



A distinct, rectangularly arranged horny fibre present, cored by oxeote spicules, 

 as in typical Chalinin^e. Microsclera toxa. 



Ridley's original diagnosis runs " Chalinidse with well-developed horny fibre arranged 

 rectangularly. Spicules, a skeleton acerate and a tricurvate acerate (' Bogen,' German) 

 flesh-spicule." 



Having regard to the close relationship of this genus to Gelliodes as indicated 

 by the presence of the toxa, in conjunction with a distinct horny fibre, we have 

 decided to remove it from amongst the " Chaliuinse " and place it in the " Gelliinse," 

 amongst the Heterorrhaphidse. It has appeared to us preferable throughout to classify 

 rather by the presence or absence and the form of the microsclera than by the greater 

 or less amount of spongin present. 



1 Zool. Coll. H.M.S. " Akrt," Brit. Mus., 1884, p. 399, pi. xxsix. fig. c. 

 (zool. CHAiiL. EXP. — PART Lix. — 1887.) Nnn 7 



