SPONGES FROM COASTAL BEACHES OF N. 8. "WAXES — WHITELEGGE. 2 1 5 



The Magascleres are as follows : — Straight or slightly curved 

 smooth styli, tapering from the basal third to the base, and also 

 to the acute apex. Size, from 0-12 to 02 mm. by 0-004 to 006 

 mm. A few very slender styli are present in the angles of the 

 mesh, and here and there in the fibres. 



EuPLACELLA MOLLissiMA, Landenfeld. 



Euplace.lla mollissima, Lendenfeld, Zool. Jahrb., Bd. ii., 1887, 

 p. 790, pi. xxi., fig. 37. 



This extremely common sponge has been a mystery for a long 

 time. Scarcely any donation from the cuast is without one or 

 more specimens. I have repeatedly attempted its identification, 

 but without success. When about fifty specimens arrived in the 

 Fisheries collection, I renewed my efforts to locate it, but failed, 

 and finally it was left out of the report. The British Museum 

 specimen explains the reason why the species could not be identified. 

 In the original description it is stated to possess very small oxea, 

 0*04: mm. long, and 0001 mm. thick. During the whole of my 

 examination of this species, I have never seen the slightest trace 

 of spicules in the fibres. In the section from the above mentioned 

 example, I found two small patches of scattered oxeote spicules, 

 under 005 mm. in length. These were only observed in one 

 section, and consisted of ill-arranged spicules, disposed between 

 the fibres without any trace of sarcode or horny matter. I there- 

 fore conclude that they are of foreign origin, and do not belong 

 to the sponge. I have made many sections from two or three of 

 the best preserved specimens, and failed to find any proper spicules 

 in the fibres or ground substance, and I consider it highly probable 

 that this species is destitute of spicules. 



In order to render the identification of this species less difficult 

 in the future, the following brief description is given : — 



Sponge irregularly cup-shaped, generally growing on sea-weeds, 

 and attached by flat root-like processes, rarely with a single 

 peduncle. The inner surface of the cup in its lower two-thirds 

 bears numerous closely placed vents from Oo to 1 mm. in diameter. 

 The upper third is minutely porous. The outer surface is strongly 

 and reticulately ridged or studded with compressed processes from 

 2 to 5 mm. or more in height. In some specimens large smooth 

 areas are exhibited, with a few ridges or compressed papillae 

 scattered here and there. The walls of the cup vary from 1 to 

 8 mm. in thickness. 



Texture close, fine and elastic. Colour yellowish stone. Height 

 of largest example 100 mm. Diameter of cup 140 mm., diameter 

 of main fibres 0'05 mm., distance apart 0'25 mm., diameter of 

 secondary fibres, 002 mm. Mesh subquadrangular, very close 

 and irregular. 



