56 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



to North and West Australia. Of the thirty-five forms mentioned, 

 six are identical with the bath sponges usually sold in Sydney; 

 three of which are stated to occur on the New South Wales coast. 

 These are as follows: — Easpongia discus, D. &M. ; E. zitnocca, 

 Schulze; and Hippospongia equina, var. elastica, Lendenfeld. To 

 these may be added Euspongia illaivarra, sp. nov. ; E. irregularis, 

 var. areolata, var. nov.; E. irregularis, var silicata, Lendenfeld; 

 E. irregularis, var chira, Lendenfeld ; and Hippospongia mollissima, 

 Lendenfeld. These eight forms are all represented in the collec- 

 tion except E. zimocca, Schulze; the first three can be purchased 

 at any dealer's store in Sydney, and the remaining five are 

 fairly common on the coast. Of the latter, from an economic 

 point of view, Euspongia illawarra is the most important, being 

 quite equal, if not superior, to many of the kinds used for domestic 

 purposes. The texture is soft, elastic, tough, and durable, and the 

 main fibres are entirely free from foreign bodies, such as sand 

 grains and spicule fragments, which are invariably present in 

 fibres of the imported bath sponges. In Dr. Lendenfeld's tabular 

 lists enumerating the contents of the main fibres, only four out 

 of a total of sixty-one forms are given as being free from foreign 

 bodies, but these are not noted as being of economic value : — 



Euspongia irregularis, va^r. areolata, var. nov.— This is moderately 

 tough, soft, and highly elastic, but it is very irregular in habit, 

 and'only a small proportion of the specimens could be utilized for 

 domestic use. 



E. irregularis, var. silicata, Lendenfeld.— This variety is very 

 tough, rather hard, and strongly elastic ; but, notwithstanding its 

 hardness, it would be highly valuable for the washing of vehicles 

 and for use in the stable. 



E. irregularis var. dura, Lendenfeld.— This form is usually 

 very hard, but many of the larger flabellate examples are fairly 

 soft, very tough, and they would be suitable for many purposes, 

 the texture being very even, close, and fine. 



Hippospongia mollissima, Lendenfeld. — This species is about 

 equal or slightly superior to H. equina, var. elastica, in value, 

 being somewhat closer and finer in texture. 



It is thus evident that at least eight species and varieties, 

 which are valuable commercially, occur on our coast ; and if 

 systematic investigation were instituted, no doubt many other 

 forms of equal or superior value would be discovered. It must 

 be remembered that the Sponges herein dealt with were obtained 

 on the various beaches along the coast, specimens that had been 

 washed ashore during heavy gales, and in many cases water-worn 

 or dried with a considerable proportion of the animal matter 

 remaining around their fibres, which has the effect of rendering 

 them hard and very often incompressible, 



