114 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM, 



example. Lendenfeld objects to Hyatt's varieties on the ground 

 that " the conuli vary in one and the same individual as much as 

 in Hyatt's varieties." The latter remarks apply with equal force 

 to the numerous examples under notice. The ends of the trellised 

 columns of fibres project from the general surface from 3 to 5 mm. ; 

 they often consist of subcylindric bundles of from two to four 

 fibres, which gives the surface a pilose aspect. In other cases the 

 bundles are compressed, and form flat tufts from 1 to 3 mm. 

 broad, and in very many examples there is a complete reticulation 

 of narrow ridges spread over the whole body ; frequently this 

 reticulation is confined to the upper surface, the lower portion 

 being covered with isolated tufts. There is a single flabellate 

 specimen with a series of six marginal oscula ; the surface does 

 not dirter from some of the globose examples. This is probably 

 Stelospongia levis, Polejaeft*. 



Stelospongia canalis, Lenden/eld. 



(Plate XV., fig. 31). 



Stelospongia canalis, Lendenfeld, Aust. Mus. Cat., xiii., Sponges, 

 1888, p. 164 ; id., Mon. Horny Sponges, 1889, p, 495, pi. 

 xxiv., fig. 10. 



Four examples of this are present in the Fisheries collection. 

 There are also two named by Dr. Lendenfeld (Nos. 94 and 319). 

 The specimen bearing the No. 319 was dredged by the writer, 

 and recognised by the author of the species as Cacospongia canalis. 

 When alive the colour was bright terra cotta. The main fibres 

 of this species are described as being free from foreign bodies. In 

 both the specimens No. 91 and 319 the main fibres contain a thin 

 axial string of spicule fragments and very small sand grains. 

 Similar foreign bodies are present in all the examples examined. 

 This sponge exhibits considerable variation in habit. In many 

 examples the habit is flabellate, without any distinct digitations ; 

 both surfaces are regularly and radiately grooved. The latter 

 are usually opposite to each other, and terminate at the wavy 

 semi-circular margin. Laterally, and here and there on the 

 surface generally, there are numerous small branching grooves 

 from 1 to 1*5 in diameter. The whole surface, including the 

 grooves, are thickly covered with inhalent pores about 1 mm. in 

 diameter. The flabellate forms usually have a short broad peduncle, 

 and frequently possess one or more narrow vertical lamellte. 

 Other specimens are irregularly lobose, with fully formed or 

 incipient digitations, with broad wavy grooves running up from 

 the base to the summit ; on the digitate processes there is as a 

 rule only one groove, which is deeper and wider than those 

 occurring in the flabellate examples. No. 319 yields the following 

 measurements : — Height, 240 mm. ; breadth, 150 mm. ; thickness, 

 from 20 to 30 mm. ; digitations, from 30 to 90 mm. in length and 



