sponges from coastal beaches of n. s. wales— whitelegge. 77 



Family HETERORRHAPHID^. 



Chondropsis, Carter. 



Chondropsis kirkii, Carter, sp. 



Dysidea kirkii, Garter, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (5), vii., 1881, 

 p. 374. 



Sigmatella australis, Lendenfeld, Aust. Mus. Cat., xiii , Sponges, 

 1888, p. 195; id, Mon. Horny Sponges, 1889, p. 611, pis. xl, 

 xli., and xlii 



Sigmatella corticata, Lendenfeld, Aust. Mus. Cat., xiii., Sponges, 

 1888, p. 199; id., Mon. Horny Sponges, 1889, p. 618, pis. xl. 

 and xli. 



Chondro]>sis kirkii, Dendy, Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., (n.s.), vii , 1895, 

 p. 251. 



There are three water-worn specimens from Tuggerah Beach. 



Rhaphisia, Topseyit. 



Rhaphisia rubra, Lendenfeld, sp. 



Ualichondria rubra, Lendenfeld, Aust. Mus. Cat., xiii.. Sponges, 

 1888, p. 80, pi. ii., fig. 1. 



The types (Nos. 212 - 372, and 450) present the features of 

 a Rhaphisia, and exhibit abundant hair-like rhaphides. The 

 original description states that "The spicules are straight oxy- 

 strongyla, with sharp or blunt points, 0*2 mm. long, and 006 

 mm. thick. Similar but more slender spicules are scattered 

 abundantly through the ground substance." 



No. 372 appears to be a portion of the figured type of the var. 

 digitata. The abruptly pointed oxea measure from 0-15 to 0'2 

 by 0'004 to 0'0045 mm. The rhaphides are variable in length ; 

 usually they measure about 0*25 mm. No. 450 agrees with the 

 description as to habit ; the oxeote spicules are, however, slightly 

 longer and stouter than in the var. digitata, they measure from 

 0*2 to 0-25 by 00045 to 0006 mm. The microscleres are about 

 the same as in the variety. 



The sponge is light, open, spongy, and bread-like in texture. 

 It varies from simple finger-like processes, to massive, with in- 

 cipient dome-shaped branches; the latter are generally surmounted 

 by one or more oscula from 5 to 10 mm. in diameter. The abruptly 

 pointed oxeote spicules form distinct main and secondary fibres, 

 very similar in diameter and arrangement to that exhibited by 

 Carter's R. anonyina, but the spicules are much more abundant, 

 shorter and stouter in R. rubra. Blunt ended megascleres are 

 present, but very scarce. 



There are seven examples from Port Stephens. 



