240 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



Ciocalypta compressa, Carter, sp. 



Leucophloeus compressus, Carter, A.M.N.H., November, 1883, 

 p. 324, pi. xiv., tig. 16. 



This species is at once distinguished from the preceding by its 

 compressed, lobose, flabellate, proliferous, sometimes stipitate 

 external form. The dermal skeleton gives to the surface a 

 minutely reticulate appearance, and the densely spiculous 

 dermal membrane is supported over large subdermal cavities 

 by the expanded ends of the outwardly curving, plumose fibres 

 of the main skeleton. The spicules are rather slender oxea, 

 gently curved and gradually and smoothly pointed, very variable 

 in size, up to about - 4 by O0083 mm. in the specimen measured. 



R.N. 272 (20 f.; "yellowish light brown"); 381 (19 f.); 449 

 (s. 9, 17 f.; "chrome-yellow"); 500 (s. 6, 6 f.; "ochre-yellow"); 

 754 (s. 5; wax -yellow "); 800 (s. 5); 917 (s. 8); 961 (s. 6). 



Sigmaxinella, n. gen. 



Axinellida? with microscleres in the form of sigmata and 

 trichodragmata. 



The genus comes near to Thrinacophora, Ridley and Dendy, 

 but differs in the addition of the sigmata, and as there are three 

 well-marked species exhibiting this character in the collection, 

 the erection of a new genus for their reception seems to be 

 desirable. It is the only known genus of Axinellidae in which 

 sigmata are present and is therefore very remarkable. 



Sigmaxinella australidna, n. sp. 



Sponge consisting of a bushy bunch of rather slender, short, 

 subcylindrical or somewhat compressed branches, sometimes 

 anastomosing and supported on a short stalk. Surface granular 

 or minutely hispid. Vents small, sometimes stellate, scattered 

 or serial along the branches. Tough, compressible, resilient. 

 Pale greyish-yellow in spirit. 



Skeleton Raspailia-\\ke ; consisting of a thick, dense axial 

 portion from -which slender fibres curved outwards towards the 

 surface, where they end in sparse, slightly projecting tufts of 

 spicules. There is a strong development of pale coloured 

 spongin, forming definite fibres rather sparsely cored by the 



