BY R. VON LENDENFELD, PH.D. 



•23. GENUS. BAJALUS. Von Lendenfeld (1). 

 Halisarcidce with regular cylindrical not ramified, elongate 

 ciliated chambers. 



53. SPECIES BAJALUS LAXUS. Nov. spec. 



This is the only Australian representative of the Suborder 

 Myxinae. 



The specific name is derived from the loose texture and tender- 

 ness of the whole sponge, a consequence of its extensive lacunose 

 cavities. 



Our sponge represents (fig. 1-2) an irregular ramified or lobular 

 mass of a dull purple colour. The separate processes are either 

 finger-shaped and slender as in the specimen represented in fig. 1, 

 or short broad and lobular as in the other. They measure to 18 

 mm. in length and from 2-10 mm., in breadth. The long and 

 slender processes are cylindrical, the truncate ones generally more 

 or less flattened. Both kinds of processes never occur on the 

 same specimen, so that one might distinguish two varieties of this 

 species, one with broad the other with slender ramifications. The 

 whole sponge never seems to attain a large size, the finest specimen 

 I have seen measured 50 x 40 x 20 mm. They seem always more 

 or less expanded in one plain. 



The Oscula are situated terminally on the processes so that there 

 are as many vents to the sponge as there are branches to it. There 

 are very small " chimneys " on them, slightly smaller than those 

 tubes described by Schulze (2), which appear as prolongations of the 

 Oscula margin in Oscarella lobuiaris. 



The surface of the sponge apj^ears perfectly smooth as in Hali- 

 sarca Dujardini. The Oscula measure from 1-2 mm. across and 

 are liable to great alterations in size. The " chimney " can be 

 retracted, so as to leave the oscular ppening nearly bare. 



The inhalent pores measure O'l mm. across; they are circular. 

 Each is covered by a thin and tender perforated plate. The 

 perforations are circular or polygonal with rounded corners and 



(1) Bajulus. A man who carries sacks, sackbearer. 



(2) t. E. Schulze. L c. Plate I., fig. 6. 



