SPONGES FROM COASTAL BEACHES OF N. S. WALES — "WHITELEQGE. 89 



type (No. 346), and find that the styli are spined. It seems that 

 the description of the spicules of this species has been transposed, 

 and should be placed under Plectispa rnacropora. In the type of 

 the latter, the echinating spicules are smooth, and not "slightly 

 spined or rough styli." 



Locality. — Tuggerah Beach. Common on all the coastal beaches 

 after gales. 



EcHiNOCLATHRiA, Carter. 



EcHiNOCLATHRiA MACROPORA, Lendenfeld, sp. 



Plectispa rnacropora, Lendenfeld, Aust. Mus. Cat., xiii., Sponges, 

 1888, p. 226. 



Numerous examples of this common coastal sponge are in the 

 collection. 



In general appearance this species is closely allied to, if not 

 identical with Echinoclathria carteri, Ridley and Dendy."*' 



Specimens from the coastal beaches generally form low densely 

 branched hemispherical or elongated clumps, with several points 

 of attachment. They are frequently 100 mm. high, and from 100 

 to 200 mm. in diameter. The branches are at first simple, but 

 when about 25 mm. or more long, they divide at the summits and 

 become dichotomous; the secondary branches again bifurcate, and 

 frequently each stem will exhibit five or six bifurcations. Coales- 

 cence takes place at nearly all points of contact. The diameter 

 of the branches is very variable, ranging between 5 and 10 mm., 

 except at the origin of two branches, then they may be 20 mm. in 

 the longer diameter and about 8 or 10 in the shorter. The apices 

 of the simple branches are roundly conical. 



The type of this species is No. 358. — Surface regularly honey- 

 combed, the width of the polygonal mesh being about 2-5 

 to 3 mm. across ; walls lamellate and minutely perforate, with 

 the smooth thin edges directed outwards. Texture when dry, 

 moderately firm, tough, and highly elastic. Colour varying from 

 light to dark yellowish-stone. Main fibres with a moderate 

 amount of spongin, cored with numerous smooth slightly curved 

 styli ; they are slightly constricted near the base, and the 

 apex is gradually tapering and acute. Size — O'l by 0-004 mm.; 

 frequently somewhat larger. Numerous straight or but little 

 curved subtylostyli are present throughout the ground substance. 

 Size — 015 by 00015 mm. A few scattered isochelse occur in well- 

 preserved examples. Size — 01 mm. The echinating spicules 

 are smooth styli, 075 in length and 0'004 in breadth. 



Locality. — Tuggerah Beach. Very common on all the ocean 

 beaches both north and south of Sydney. 



20 Ridley and Dendy— Chall. Eep., ZooL, xx , 1887, p. 162, pi. xxix., 

 figs, 12, 12a, pi. xxxi., figs. 3, 3a. 



