DESOfllPTIONS 



SOUTH iFRICAN SPONGES 



PART III. 



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E. KIRKPATRICK, F.Z.S. juj 



BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY^ 



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In the present paper the Monaxonida and Keratosa, obtained 

 by Dr. J. D. F. Gilchrist from Cape Colony and Natal, are 

 described. The collection comprises 6i specimens, represent- 

 ing 33 species and 3 varieties, of which 19 species and all the 

 varieties are new ; of the genera, one is new to science. 

 Among the points of special interest are the following : (i) the 

 occurrence of a large and massive new species of Placospoiigia 

 characterised by a great development of the internal skeletal 

 partitions ; (2) a new stalked species of Latninculia near L. 

 {Podo:>pongia) lovciiii Bocage ; (3) a new Spirastrellid genus 

 near Spinistrella but with an ectosomal crust of euasters in 

 place of spirasters. 



With regard to geographical distribution, 3 species {Tragosia 

 infiuidihuUfoniiis (J) ; SoUasella hystrix Topsent ; Halichondria 

 pachastrelloides Topsent) are common to the North Atlantic 

 and Natal. Two species {Latninculia lovenii Bocage, and 

 Hisfodeniia appeiidiciilatiiin, Carter) from the North Atlantic 

 very nearly resemble the Natal species Latiiiiiciilia iiatalciisis 

 sp. n., and H istodcnna natalensc sp. n., respectively. Hania- 

 cantha csperioidcs R. and D. is common to Cape Colony and 

 Rio de la Plata. Three species {Clathria typica, Carter ; 

 Hircinia arensa, Lendenfeld ; and Hirciiiia arbiisciila, Lenden- 

 feld) are common to Australia and South Africa. From these 

 few data no conclusions can be drawn, though it may be 

 mentioned that Carter has drawn attention to resemblances 



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