848 addendum to the moxograph of the australian sponges, 



Geographical Distribution. 

 East Coast of Australia, Port Jackson, (von Lendenfeld.) 



Bathymetrical Distribution. 



Shallow water. 



Halme gigantea. N. sp. 



Shape and Size. 



I distinguish three varieties of this species. These differ from 

 each other, particularly in their outer shape and in the size of the 

 meshes of the network of the sponge. The sponge consists of 

 a basal mass, attaining a diameter of 100 mm., and attached by a 

 broad base. From this, peculiar elongate more or less conic 

 processes grow upward. These processes differ very much in their 

 shape from the regularly cylindrical digitate processes of the 

 foregoing species. Their greatest width is half-way up, from 

 there they taper to a narrow point. They attain a length 

 of 400 mm. and a greatest width in the centre of 60 mm. 

 Very often three or more of these processes coalesce for a part of 

 the distance to form thick lamellfe, which may attain a size of 150 

 by 120 mm. From the terminations of these laraellse the distal 

 parts of the conic processes project, so that the lamella itself 

 attains a highly serrated margin, with 4 or 5 incisions not less 

 than 80 mm. deep. Like the foregoing species, this one also is 

 hollow. The cavity measures about J of the diameter of the 

 sponge. The sponge lamella itself forms a network with meshes 

 which are mvxch more regular and smaller than in the foregoing 

 species. Their width varies as mentioned above in the different 

 varieties, from 4 to 12 .mm. The distal margin of the sponge 

 lamella is slightly thickened and not sharp as in Halme laxa. 

 There is, however, no trace of a dermal lamella. The meshes are 

 more or less hexagonal. 



Surface. 

 Smooth, slightly uneven. 



