120 



fiECOEDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



the imported article. This may be due to many causes such as 

 higlier tempei'ature, food supply, or strong currents. The 

 American and West Indian sponges although identical with the 

 Mediterranean variety are inferior, the texture being more open 

 and somewhat wanting in toughness. 



Hippospongia equina, var. 7nea7idrimform,is, Hyatt. (No. 5). 



This variety is rather coarse in general appearance, the fibres 

 are fine but distant from each other ; they are, however, exceed- 

 ingly tough and elastic, two qualities which render this form of 

 great commercial value. The specimen was obtained at Shark Bay. 



Hipposjjonyia, sji, (No. 12), 



This was obtained alive at Fremantle. It is possibly a form 

 of H. canaliculata, Lendenfeld, but it differs greatly from 

 specimens in the Australian Museum, the texture is much finer 

 and the surface is villose. This appearance may be due to the 

 fact that the West Australian example has been macerated, 

 whilst the Museum specimens have been dried in the fleshy 

 condition. 



Tliorecta meandrina, Lendenfeld, is probably No. 7 and is of no 

 commercial value. Shark Bay, W.A. 



Thomas Whitelegge. 



