440 REVISION OF THE MON'AXOXlD SPONGES, iii., 



Remarks. — The occurrence, as in this species, of auxiliary 

 spicules in pairs — in incipient dragmata, as it were — is perhaps 

 not uncommon in the genus RaspaiHa; although, as far as I am 

 aware, no mention of it has hitherto been made. I have observed 

 it not only in the three species of this genus described in the pre- 

 sent paper, but also in R. atropurpurea (Carter) Whitelegge'54), 

 and in the allied genus ClathriodeiidroiiiiS) . 



A X I A M N , gen.nov. 

 Axinellid?e(?), typically of ramose or flabellate habit, and with 

 conuloseor lamelliferous surface, in which the characteristic mega- 

 sclere is an oxea with spinose extremities, and the skeleton is a 

 lattice-like reticulation of fibres formed of these spicules (and 

 admissibly also of derivatives of them) cemented and ensheathed 

 by spongin. Microscleres are absent. 



The nearest approach I know of to the type of skeleton-reticu- 

 lation typical of this genus, I have observed in an undescribed 

 sponge from New Zealand; but, in the latter — which thus belongs 

 to an unnamed genus — tlie fibres are cored by smooth styli, and 

 echinated by rare distally spined rhabdostyli. I have also ob- 

 served a somewhat similar type of skeleton in an undescribed 

 species of Trikentrion from North-west Australia. As it seems 

 highly probable that the New Zealand sponge is generically 

 related to Trikentrio-ii (but distinguished in having stylote instead 

 of oxeote megascleres and cladose acanthostyli with only one 

 basal actine instead of several), I am inclined to think that 

 Axiamon also is related to Trikentrion, and thus of "Ectyonine" 

 urigin. Since, however, the genus is lacking in any character 

 that would warrant its inclusion in the Desmacidonidce as at 

 present defined, the only course open seems to be to place it in 

 the Axinellidce. 



In the form of its spicules, the type-species, A. folium, sp.nov., 

 shows analogies, probably indicative of relationship, with ^arecAiwa 

 raspailioides Hentschel(21); and it also presents points of agree- 

 ment with Thrinacophora fnniformis Ridley k Dendy. 



A species, which, I believe, will be found to belong to Axiamon, 

 has been described by Carter(6), from Australia(?j, under the name 



