400 BULLETIN 100, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



margins of ridges, there covered in by networks. Similar, covered, 

 oscula occur in the wall of the cavity. Spicular network covering in 

 the oscula similar to that which covers the general surface of the 

 sponge, but coarser. Skeleton a coarse irregular network of stout 

 fibers composed of a great number of spicules loosely and irregularly 

 bound together. Spicules slightly curved, ranging from oxeate to 

 strongylate, varying much in size especially in diameter, typical full- 

 grown spicules 370 by 17.5 [j.. 



Ridley had earlier (1884, p. 409) studied two specimens of this 

 species {Alcyonium testudinariu?n, Lamarck, 1815) from Queens- 

 land. He gives the dimensions of one, 6 inches high by 6 inches 

 broad. Both specimens were crateriform and with ridges on the 

 outer surface. Spicules, strongyles simply rounded at ends, some- 

 times tapering somewhat to the ends, along with some oxeas; aver- 

 age maximum size 320 by 16 y.. Ridley says his specimens agree 

 with Lamarck's type. 



Dendy (1905, p. 144) briefly describes and figures another speci- 

 men from the Gulf of Manaar. It is wider than high, about 

 170 mm. wide, 120 mm. high, and with the meridional ridges (ribs). 

 Hentschel (1912, p. 403) records a small specimen, 80 mm. high, 

 from the Aru Islands; spicules 358-470 \k long. Topsent (19206?, 

 p. 8) describes specimens from Singapore; the spicules are oxeas 

 reaching 415 by 26 \i. 



The vertical ridges on the outer surface of the sponge appear to 

 be a characteristic of the species, but Dendy would include forms 

 in which they are replaced by very irregular outgrowths (Dendy, 

 1889, pi. 3, fig. 2, showing a specimen from the Mergui archipelago), 

 and Hentschel in his definition of the species would also include 

 such forms. I suggest that they may be referable to another species, 

 P. lignosa (see below). 



The Albatross collection includes a fine dried specimen from sta- 

 tion D5147 (pi. 40, fig. 6), agreeing well with Dendy's description. 

 (See previously.) The vase is wider than high, 300 by 270 mm., 

 the crateriform cavity 130 mm. deep. The meridional ridges are 

 about 20-30 mm. apart, some of them near the base of the sponge 

 breaking up into irregular projections. Sponge is firm, but not 

 nearly so heavy nor so woody as the P. lignosa of this report. 

 Color, light brown to light gray on the surface, darker inside. 



The canals terminating (beginning probably) on the margins of 

 he ridges and those leading into the cavity of the cup are as 

 Dend}' describes. 



I may add the following notes on the skeleton. The internal 

 skeletal reticulum is in general coarse and irregular, with some 

 scattered spicules. But owing to the anastomosis of fibers in one 

 and the same plane, reticular lamellae about 0.2 mm. thick are 



