■568 STUDIES ON SPONGES, 



I further assume that in this case, as also in Aphrodite, these 

 cells are in connection with the digestive functions of the spongei 

 and take up and absorb microscopic food-particles, which may get 

 into the lacunae of the inhalent system, and there come in contact 

 with the epithelium. 



Geographical Distribution, 

 East Coast of Australia, Port Jackson (Ramsay.) 



Bathymetrical Distribution. 

 40 metres. 



The type specimens of this sponge are in the Australian iMuseum, 

 Sydney. 



III.— HALME TIMGENS. 



A SPONGE WITH REMARKABLE COLOURING POWER. 



Among the sponges sent by Dr. Haacke from Thursday Island, 

 is a new species of my genus Halme. 



Halme tingens. Nov. spec. 



Sponge composed of reticulate lamella, massive 200 x 300 x 

 100 mm. large. No dermal lamella. Meshes on an average 

 12 mm. wide. Lamella curved 2-3 mm. thick, covered with small 

 conuli. Very little sand in the skin. Skeleton composed of very 

 distant fine fibres. Radial main fibres charged with foreign bodies 

 <ind tangental connecting fibres free from such. Colour in spirits 

 at first white, then violet. 



The spirit extracts a yellow colour from the sponge, which 

 appears to remain in solution in the spirits. This sponge was 

 dredged by Dr. Haacke at Thursday Island. 



It is an intermediate form connecting the sub-family Auleninfe 

 with the genus Hippospongia. 



Halme tingens is very peculiar inasmuch as it colours paper 

 and other substances with a dark violet tint. If paper is 

 inserted in a bottle containing this sponge and spirits, it will be 



