NOTES ON LENDENFELd's TYPES OF SPONGES — WHITELEGQB. 283 



nitric acid, two or three attempts resulting in a mass of short bits 

 of fibres with the spicules still imbedded. The spicules agree 

 with the description as regards form, i.e., " oxystrongyla slightly 

 curved in the middle, and very slightly tapering towards the ends ; 

 the ends are somewhat rounded, and from them a very narrow 

 and sharp spine projects, which lies axially and renders the spicule 

 sharp-pointed; the spicules are 0'33 mm. long and O'Oll mm, 

 thick in the centre ; the terminal spine is 0'006 mm. long." I 

 failed to find any spicules of the above dimensions in the type, 

 either ui situ or by boiling. This result cast a doubt on my 

 standard of measurement, and I at once made fresh tests with the 

 micrometres, and also with the spicules of a well-defined sponge, 

 Siphonochalina annulata, Ridley and Dendy.^ In this species 

 the spicules are given as measuring 0-1 mm. by 00065 mm. The 

 length of the spicules is very constant, and might be used as a 

 standard of 01 mm. The spicules of H. daihriformis, as measured 

 in situ, and after boiling, are as follows : — 09 to Oil mm. in 

 length, and 0002 to 00025 mm. in diameter; the most pro- 

 nounced contracted points rarely exceed 0004 ; frequently they 

 do not attain to 0-002, and sometimes they are absent. 



This species appears to be nearer to the Chalininje than the 

 Renierinse. 



The British Museum specimen appears to be a species of Rhap- 

 hisia, with oxea and raphides ; the former are about 0*4 by 0"015 

 mm., and the latter 0*25 mm. in length. 



Reniociialixa stalagmites, Lendenfeld. 

 In habit and surface this form closely resembles Echinodictyum. 

 rugosum, Ridley and Dendy.^ The spicules consist chiefly of 

 oxea of various sizes, straight or curved, and somewhat swollen at 

 the basal third, tapering to a rather abruptly pointed base, and 

 also to the often acutely pointed apex ; the extremities of the 

 oxeote forms are frequently denticulated, or provided with a small 

 cap tipped with minute spines. Megascleres (a) oxea, size 0'2 to 

 0-37 mm. by 004 to O'Ol mm.; {h) styli 0-15 to 0-2 mm. by 

 001 mm. A few slender oxea and styli are also present, which 

 measure about 1 mm. in length, and O'OOS mm. in diameter. 



Reniochalina lamella, Lendenfeld. 

 The spicular characters are identical with the above, the surface 

 of the specimen also agrees, but the habit is slightly difierent. 

 The locality given in the " Catalogue of Sponges," and also on the 

 label, is evidently wrong. The specimen bears a registered number; 

 the habitat given in the register is Western Australia, and the 

 example was purchased from the late Mr. J. F. Bailey, of 

 Melbourne. 



3 Eidley and Dendy — Chall. Eep., Zool., xx., pi. vii., fi^. 2, p. 21. 

 < Eidley and Dendy — Chall. Eep., Zool., xx., pi. xxxii., fig. 1. 



