BV E. t\ HALLMANN. 369 



scarce, except in the derinal skeleton, where their number equals, if 

 it does not exceed, that of the longer ones. 



Loc. — Port Jackson. 



Uemarka. — In the aggregate of its ciiaracters, T. diyitata var. 

 ruhicunda appears to be well distinguished from any hitherto 

 described variety of the species, and, in many respects, diverges so 

 widely from the typical form as almost to justify its recognition as 

 an independent species; possibly, however, it may prove to be 

 identical with the insufficiently described T. digitata var. fibrosa, 

 R. and D., which is recorded from the same locality (Port Jack- 

 son ) . Its chief diagnostic features are the digitate, massive, exter- 

 nal form; the well-defined asponginous fibres; the considerable 

 range in length, and partial separation into two groups of the 

 raphides; and the character of the extremities of the tylota. 



Hentschel(20), misled by Lendenfeld's description of Tedania 

 rubicunda, has briefly described, under that name, a sponge, from 

 the west coast of Australia, in which the dermal spicules are amphi- 

 strongyla (apparently with non-spinose extremities), and which, 

 in other respects also, differs markedly from the sponge here re- 

 described. 



Tedania laxa. 



Labelled in Lendenfeld's handwriting "Truncatella laxa" — the 

 MS. synonym of Tedania laxa — there are, in all, twelve specimens, 

 eleven occurring together in one jar, and one separately. They 

 vary very considerably in their exact external form, though all are 

 much alike in colour, consistency, and surface-appearance; and all 

 agree in being composed of clustered, usually more or less inter- 

 united, moderately slender branches. Some, for example, Iiave tlie 

 branches very intimately intergrown and partially fused witli one 

 another, in such a way as to give rise to a rather compact reticulate 

 mass, and are thus, as regards external form, apparently in close 

 agreement with the description of the species; whereas others are 

 more erect and arborescent, and include among them several tliat 



