1106 A MONOGRAPH OF THE AUSTRALIAN SPONGES, 



quadriradiate spicules as thick as the gastral ones, and three to 

 five times as thick as the gasfcral quadriradiate spicules. 



Colour : White in spirits and in the dry state. 



Locality: Coast of South Australia (Sonder.) 



III. SUB-FAMILY. GRANTING. Von Lendenfeld. 



Syconidre with ramified ciliated tubes, with a complicated 

 inhalent canal system. 



12. GENUS. GRANTIA. Von Lendenfeld 



The skeleton consists of acerate, triradiate and quadriradiate 

 spicules, which are all of the same size exclusively. Groups of 

 sensitive cells around the inhalent pores. This Genus is nearly 

 identical with Polejaeff's " Grantia Fleming " (1), but very 

 different from Flemings (2) original Genus Grantia. Transition- 

 forms between Syconida}, Sylleibidae and Leucopsidae (3). 



24. SPECIES. GRANTIA LOBATA. Von Lendenfeld. 

 SYCANDRA COMPRESSA var. LOBATA. E. Haeckel (4). 



The specimens of Grantia compressa, Fleming, in Australian 

 waters are all cylindrical, solitary persons and must be referred to 

 Haeckel's variety " lobata." I therefore consider myself justified 

 in raising this variety to the rank of a species. 



The Sponge attains a height of 25 mm. and a diameter of 6 mm. 

 The body wall is 1*5 mm. thick. The ramifications of the ciliated 

 tubes only slight. 



Spicules : Gastral quadriradiate spicules irregularly scattered, 

 generally disposed in such a manner that the sagittal ray stands 



(1.) 2V". Polejaef. Report on the Calcarea. The Zoology of the Voyage 

 of E.M.S. Challenger, Part XXIV., p. 41. 



(2.) J. Fleming. History of British Animals, 1S24, p. 524. 



(3.) /'. K. Schttlze describes that also uvSycandra the ciliated tubes are 

 slightly ramified, and may even form a reticulation at the base of the 

 Sponge; sharp distinction between the families can of course not be 

 expected. 



(4 J K. Haeckel. Die Kalkschwiimme. Eine Monographic Part II., 

 Suite 3G2. 



