14 A MONOGRAPH OF THE AUSTRALIAN SPONGES, 



The exlialenb canal system is simple not lacunose, and sliows 

 no peculiarities. 



Structure. 



Histologically our species resembles Chandrosia reniformis (1) 

 very closely. The round fat like globular masses are most 

 numerous towai'ds the outer surface. Here also the Pigment 

 masses (fig. 8) are situated. The latter follow the inhalent canals 

 downward for a good distance (tig. 8). I found the whole surface 

 covered with flat Epithelial cells. I failed to detect Gland cells, 

 and believe that their protective function is performed in the 

 GummiuEe by the universally distributed fat-like spherules so 

 common below the outer surface. The walls of the large Canals 

 inhalent and exhalent are highly granular, and the margin of 

 this granular coating is sharply defined outward towards the 

 Gallert tissue of the Sponge. This granular lamella is thicker 

 around the lai'ge canals than around the small ones. Ciliated 

 chambers are never found in the granvilar canal coating. 



The pigment is massed in the outer portion of the Cortex, 

 which consequently appears very dark in colour. The rest of the 

 Cortex is nearly colourless, hyaline, and of much lighter colour 

 than the pulpa (compare also F. E. Schulze's figures (2), the latter 

 is very granular and intransparent. 



Locality: East Coast of Australia, Port Jackson, 10-20 metres 

 on stones, <tc. (Ramsay.) 



II. SUB-FAMILIA. CHONDRISSIN.E. Von Lendenfeld. 



Chandrosidte, with fleshspicules. The iieshspicules of this sub- 

 family are of a very simple kind, and all represent the type of a 

 ball with numerous irregularly disposed axes. The axes are repre- 

 sented by spines, extending radially from the sphere. The possible 

 variations are the following : The spines may attain a relative great 

 length whilst the diameter of the central solid sphere decreases j 



{\) F. E. Schuke. Die Familie der Chondrosidre. Zeitschrift fiir 

 wissenschaftliche Zoologie. Band XXIX. Seite 100 ff. 

 (2) F. E. Schulze. L.c. Tafel VIII., fig. 8. 



