SPOXGES FROM COASTAL BEACHES OF N. S. WALES — WHITELEGGE. 81 



the descriptions of the spicular characters ; in each case they are 

 described as "oxea." The specimens, when examined, only yielded 

 smooth styli. The following is a brief summary of the examina- 

 tion of the types : — 



Echinonema anchoratum, Carter, var. ramosa, Lendenfeld, (No. 



307). 

 The description is perfect as applied to the outward form : — 

 "Small, erect, digitate sponges, with irregular and high processes 

 all over the surface." The colour is reddish-brown, with purplish 

 tints in the interior. Height of specimen 55 mm., breadth 35 mm., 

 and the thickness of the ultimate branches about 5 mm. 



Megascleres — (a) Stout, strongly spined, echinating styli. Size — 

 1 by 0*008 mm. (b) Stout, smooth styli, occurring in the fibres 

 and also in the ground substance. Size — 0"8 by 0*01 mm. A few 

 slender forms, with slightly inflated bases, are also present. 

 Chelae not observed. 



Echinonema anchoratum, Carter, var. dura, Lendenfeld, (Nos. 

 309 - 322). 

 The description of the habit does not agree with the specimens. 

 The types are very similar in appearance. The larger example 

 consists of numerous meandering coalesced lamellpe, with their 

 edges directed outwards, forming a honeycomb-like structure with 

 very large cells. The surfaces of the lamellae are longitudinally 

 corrugated ; the distal margins are thin and uneven. A few 

 indistinct grooves are present near the base, these gradually fade 

 away before reaching the summits of the laminfe. The texture is 

 hard, tough, and minutely porous throughout. The surface re- 

 ticulation is very fine, and cannot be seen distinctly with the 

 unaided eye. Height of specimen 90 mm., breadth 90 by 100 

 mm., thickness of the lamella 3 to 5 mm. Colour dull stone with 

 a slight tint of red in the unexposed parts. The fibres are 

 abundantly echinated with spined styli ; the primaries are cored 

 with a moderate number of stout smooth styli ; the connecting 

 fibres are generally uni- or bi-spicular. A few stout styli and 

 many slender forms are present in the ground substance, together 

 with some ill-defined and hair-like and a fair number of small 

 isochelse. 



Megascleres — (a) Spined styli, with the spines more pronounced 

 in the middle and at the subtruncated base. Size — 0*0G by 006 

 mm. (6) Stout smooth styli. Size — 0*15 by 01 mm. (c) Slender 

 smooth styli. Size — 0-17 by 0*0035 mm. 



Microscleres — Isochelse 001 in length. 



Although the description of the outward form does not agree, 

 the MS. name is strictly applicable to this form, i.e., ^^Anthero- 

 spongia dura." 



