254 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



Microscleres, numerous slendei", contort sigmata, measuring 

 about 03 mm. from bend to bend. 



The sandy skeleton appears to be somewhat coarser, and the 

 sigmata decidedly smaller than described by von Lendenfeld, but 

 not sufficiently so to invalidate an identification. The sponge, 

 however, appears to be quite distinct from Carter's '•'■ Dysidea 

 chalinifonnis" with which von Lendenfeld identities it. My 

 preparation of Carter's specimen from the British Museum shows 

 it to belong to the EsperellincE. 



i^.A^ 945 (x A); 1027 (x B); 1044 (x); 1083 (x A). 



Cho7idrflpsis co/inii>iifer, n. sp. 



Massive, irregular, solid, heavy, compact. Surface very 

 uneven, beset with short, flattened, rounded or ridge-like promi- 

 nences, where the sandy columns come to the surface : smooth, 

 glabrous and grey (in spirit) between these projections. Interior 

 densely cliarged with sand, arranged in very stout radiating 

 columns : soft and gelatinous between. 



Skeleton, the main skeleton is composed of the very stout 

 columns of sand above-mentioned, in which the sand-grains, 

 though closely aggregated, appear to be scarcely if at all con- 

 nected by spongin. The few and feebly developed spicules are 

 irregularly scattered or collected into loose whisp-like bundles, 

 especially towards the sui'face. There is no dermal skeleton. 



Megascleres, very slender, straight strongyla or tylota, measur- 

 ing about 0-2 by 0-002 mm. 



Microscleres, faii'ly stout, contort, sharp-pointed sigmata, 

 measuring about 035 mm. from bend to bend. 



R.N. 445 (s. 9, 17 f ; "gallstone yellow over wood-brown"). 



Chondropsis iopsentii, n. sp. 



Massive, irregular, with nearly smooth but slightly conulose or 

 mseandriniform surface. Vents of fair size, scattered. Texture 

 compact, gritty, friable, densely charged with coarse sand. 

 Colour in spirit l)iown throughout. 



Skeleton, the main skeleton is composed of flattened columns 

 of rather coarse sand running vertically to the surface. These 

 columns may unite by their edges in a honeycomb fashion, so 



