BY R. VON LENDENFELD, PH.D. 305 



two specimens have been seen by me, both are of equal size, 

 measiiring 40 mm. in height, and 70 mm. in breadth. 



Color. 



This species I have only seen in the dry state. Then it is of a 

 bright yellow, light ochre-coloured. 



Surface. 



The surface is diflerent from that of any of the foregoing species. 

 The dermal lamella namely, is very thin and does not contain so 

 hard and resisting an armour of cemented sand-grains as in Halme 

 Nidus Vesparum, which species is the most like it as far as the 

 surface-structure is concerned. Between the terminations of the 

 interior honeycomb, which is exceptionally regular, the dermal 

 lamella is in the dry specimens depressed. It appears as if it had 

 collapsed. In the centre of each depression there is a small round 

 Pseudopore. These pores measure only 1 mm. in diameter, are all 

 of uniform width, and about 10 mm. apart, scattered very regularly 

 over the surface. 



Structure. 



The internal structure is peculiar. The honeycomb structure is 

 more marked than in any other species. On a section one perceives 

 that the walls of the cells are straight and upright as in Halme 

 simplex. But there are several layers of such cells, one over the 

 other, the cells of different layers communicating with one another 

 by small pores only. As no spirit specimens have been examined 

 by me, the position of this sponge appears somewhat doubtful ; the 

 general appearance however, is so similar to the other species, that 

 I consider myself justified in placing this sponge in the genus 

 Halme. It might however, be one of the Spongelidse. 



Geographical Distribution. 

 East Coast of Australia, Illawarra (Ramsay). 



Bathymetrical Distribution. 

 Both specimens were washed up on the beach near WoUongong. 



