On Two New Fossil Sponges from Sandhurst. Gl 



Protospongia. With this exception, the measurements agree 

 very closel}'- with those of a Lower Cambrian form, P. Hicksi 

 (Hinde), the figures of which are given in his " British 

 Fossil Sponges," though the desci'ijition, unfortunately, has 

 not yet appeared. 



The specimen was found by Mr, J. E. G. Edwards, of 

 Sandhurst. 



P. Cruciformis (n. sp., Figs. 3 and 4). 



Form of sponge unknown. The fragment preserved is 

 somewhat oblong in shape, its width being about 3'5 cm. 

 and its length about 45 cm. The spicules are cruciform in 

 shape, the length of the rays being 2 mm. and their 

 diameter o mm. They are placed end to end, so as to form 

 approximate squares. Smaller and irregularly placed 

 cruciform spicules, the rays of which are about "75 mm. in 

 length, are present in places. In one instance a broken i-ay, 

 about 15 mm. in length, lying in the angle of one of the 

 larger spicules, suggests the possible presence of a fifth ray 

 at right angles to the plane in which the other two lie. At 

 one side of the specimen occurs a spicule about 6 mm. long. 

 This has three rays at one end, forming obtuse angles with 

 it, and may possibly be an anchoring spicule. 



The specimen more nearly agrees with Proto.spongia than 

 with any other form, though the apparent absence of two 

 sizes of squares suggests that it may possibly be of a new 

 genus. A more perfect specimen would, however, be 

 required for the foundation of one. 



The specimen was found by Mr. J. O. Liddle, of Sand- 

 hurst, and is in the Melbourne Universit}' Biological Museum. 



My warmest thanks are due to Mr. Dendy for his advice 

 during the preparation of the paper, and for the loan of 

 books on the subject, which I was unable elsewhere to 

 procure. 



DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES. 

 Plate 4. 



1. P. reticulata, natural size. 



2. Portion of 1 magnified 4 times. 



3. P. cruciformis, natural size. 



4rt. 46. 4f. Spicules fi'om 3 magnified 4 times. 



