SPONGES FROM COASTAL BEACHES OF N. S. WALES — WHITELEGGE. 67 



Canterbury College, Christchurch, New Zealand, who very gener- 

 ously presented to the Trustees seventy-nine microscopic slides, 

 representing about seventy-four species, many of which contained 

 sections used in the preparation of his " Catalogue of Non-calcareous 

 Sponges." Subsequently the Trustees received another instance 

 of his generosity in the loan of about two hundred and twenty-four 

 pieces of sponges, originally taken from Carter's specimens in the 

 British Museum, including forty-seven types. Sections from these 

 examples were prepared and mounted in canada balsam for future 

 reference. The above-mentioned slides have proved of great value 

 in the work of determination ; and personally I am greatly indebted 

 to Professor Dendy for his kindness in so promptly obliging me. 



Sub-Class NON-CALCAREA. 



Order MON AXONIDA, Ridley and Dendy. 



Family HOMORRHAPHID^. 



Sub-family RENIERIN^. 



Renier.a, Nardo. 



Reniera dendyi, sp. nov. 



(Plate X., fig. 1). 



Sponge cup-shaped, shortly pedunculate, generally broader than 

 high, sides more or less longitudinally folded, margin thin, acute, 

 rarely continuous, often lobate, and sometimes exhibiting deep 

 incisions between the lobes. Surface pretty even, harsh to the 

 touch, minutely porous throughout, vents not evident. Texture 

 in the dried condition hard, moderately tough and flexible. Colour 

 yellowish cream, often tinted with red. The largest example 

 measures 110 mm. in height, 160 mm. in breadth, and from 3 to 

 5 mm. in thickness. The skeleton consists of rather stout multi- 

 spicular primary lines, which curve gracefully outwards and 

 terminate in dermal tufts of spicules. The primary lines are 

 0-05 mm. or less in diameter, and from O'l to 0'15 mm. apart 

 the secondaries are uni- or bispicular, and rather irregularly dis- 

 posed. The spicules consist of oxea of two sizes : — (a) Short, 

 slightly curved, subfusiform, and gradually sharp pointed. Size — 

 0-2 by 0-01 mm. (b) Elongate, curved, or slightly sinuated, 

 cylindric to within a few diameters of the rather variable extremi- 

 ties. As a rule, both ends are gradually and equally sharp pointed, 

 sometimes one or both ends are subacute, and in rare cases obtuse. 

 Size— 0-6 to 0-8 by 001 to 001 2 mm. 



Four examples ; two from Lake Illawarra, and two from Tuggerah 

 Beach ^ 



