112 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



Thorecta lobosa, Lendenfeld. 



Thorecta lobosa, Lendenfeld, Men Horny Sponges, 1889, p. 365, 

 pi. xxiii., fig. 4. 



This species is represented by a single specimen from Tuggerah 

 Beach. 



Thorecta byssoides, (Lam.), Lendey\feld. 



Thorecta byssoides, Lendenfeld, Mon. Horny Sponges, 1889, p. 365, 

 pi. xxxiii., fig. 3. 



This species is represented by three examples. One is pyriform, 

 pedunculate, and has a single central osculum ; the other two are 

 ilabellate, with indistinct oscula on the upper semi-circular margin. 

 The texture is very open, and the fibres are densely charged with 

 small sand grains, which occupy three-fourths of the fibres. 



Three specimens from Port Stephens. 



Thorecta palmata, Hyatt. 



(Plate xiii., figs. 25 - 25a). 



Spongelia palmata, Hyatt, Mem. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., ii , (4), 

 '1877, p. 537, pi. xvii., fig. 15. 



Thorecta farlovii, Lendenfeld, Mon. Horny Sponges, 1889, p. 353, 

 pi. xxiii., fig. 7, pi. xxiv., fig. 4. 

 This species is usually flab(41ate and much wider than high ; 

 the lamina arises from a compressed and often compound peduncle ; 

 in some examples the latter is simple, in others it is made up of 

 several strands, which, although united in part or wholly, still 

 retain their individuality. The frondose portion is mostly semi- 

 circular in outline, with oblique lower borders ; the latter are 

 generally about equal to two-thirds of the height of the sponge. 

 Both surfaces are marked with depressions arranged in concentric 

 zones, their width and depth varying in different parts, and often 

 they are almost imperceptible in some specimens ; the depth of 

 the wave like depressions is generally proportionate to the thick- 

 ness of the frond. In a specimen IG mm. in thickness the 

 depressions are not more than 3 or 4 mm. in depth ; it agrees 

 very closely with the specimen figured by Hyatt (pi. xvii., fig. 15). 

 In another example 30 mm. in thickness, the depressions are from 

 6 to 10 mm. in depth, and in several larger and thicker specimens 

 they are deeper in proportion. In some smaller specimens the 

 frondose portion of the sponge is very thick, and the peduncle 

 rather long. This form is well depicted by Lendenfeld's figure 

 (pi. xxiv., fig. 4), in which the depressions are very deep. The 

 oscula form a continuous row along the margin ; they measure 

 between 3 and 6 mm. in diameter, and are rarely more than their 

 own width apart. The inhalent pores in the skeleton are not 

 plainly visible, except on the lower central regions ; they are from 



