SPONGES FROM COASTAL BEACHES OF N. S. WALES — "WHITELEGGE. 75 



SiPHONOCHALiNA, Schmidt. 



SiPHONOCHALINA PROCUMBENS, var. FLABELLIFORMLS, Carter. 



Patuloscula jyrocmnbens, var. flabelliforinis, Carter, Ann. Mag. 

 Nat. Hist., (5), xvi., 1885, p. 286. 



Four specimens from Tuggerah Beach. 



SiPHONOCHALINA INTERMEDIA, Ridley and Deiidy. 



Sipho7iochalina intermedia, Kidley and Deudy, Ann. Mag. Nat. 

 Hist., (5), xviii., 1886, p. 231; id., Chall. Rep., Zool., xx., 

 1887, p. 30, pi. vii., fig. 1, pi. xlvi., fig. 3, 



Phylosophinaintermedia,JAexidiex\ie[d,7iOo\. Jahrb., ii., 1887, p. 800, 

 pi. xxiii., tig. 47 ; id., Aust. Mus. Cat., xiii., Sponges, 1 888, p. 93. 



This sponge, when well grown, forms dense low rounded masses, 

 often over 200 mm. in diameter, but rarely exceeds about 80 mm. 

 in height. Usually it has several points of attachment, with 

 a ft'W root-like processes. The branches frequently anastomose, 

 either about the middle or at the dilated summit; in some cases 

 they fuse along the whole length, and the upper surface is sub- 

 continuous. The large oscula, in well preserved specimens, are 

 usually contracted at their summits, the margin being thin and 

 elevated. The colour, when alive, is dark slate; when dry, drab 

 or silver gray. The spicules are sharp pointed oxea. Size — O'l by 

 0004 to 006 mm. 



There are seven examples from Tuggerah Beach, one from the 

 Hawkesbury River, and two from Port Stephens. 



SiPHONOCHALINA STALAGMITES, Lendcnfeld. 



Siphonochalina stalagmites, Lendenfeld, Zool. Jahrb., ii., 1887, p. 

 799, pi. xxiii, tig. 49; id., Au.st. Mus. Cat., xiii.. Sponges, 1888, 

 p. 94. 



There are numerous examples in the Museum collection, and 

 several in the Fisheries donation. 



The sponge is generally somewhat flabelliform in habit, and 

 consists of a series of tubular processes more or less fused together. 

 The sides are covered with prominent elevations in the form of 

 short, thick, and generally transversely disposed ridges, which 

 gives the surface a peculiar gnarled aspect. In some specimens 

 the ridges are ill-defined, in others they project outwards a 

 distance equal to the transverse diameter of the tubes. 



Examples from the Wollongong district are frequently over- 

 grown by a species of Alcyonaria (Callipodium). The surface of 

 the sponge not occupied by the Callipodium continues to grow 

 and partly invest the organism. In beach-worn examples which 

 have had the alcyonarian growth removed, the surface presents 

 a series of meandering grooves, and the usual warty processes are 

 scarcely noticeable. 



