Catalogue of Non-Calcaj^eous Sponges. 25 



This remarkable sponge appears to be rare. Two of the 

 specimens which I now refer to it (R.N. 599 and 1131) have 

 very much smaller forceps spicules than the type and may 

 possibly be distinct. The type of Suberites biceps in the British 

 Museum contains spined forceps, isochelaj and (1) sigmata and is 

 obviously referable to Forcepia colonensis. 



R.N. 549 (x, 19 f; "geranium red"); 599 (x, 19 f; "poppy 

 red"); 1131 (x). 



B.iW. d. 106 C' Forcipia colonensis^' Reg. 86-12-15-363); sp. 

 12 (''Suberites Inceps, C. type;' Reg. 86-12-15-52). 



Forcepia carteri, n. sp. 



Sponge massive, irregular. Surface very uneven, with scabid, 

 subdivided sandy areas. Texture cavernous, compact between, 

 with large sandy tracts ; tirm. Greyish-yellow in spirit. 



Skeleton, composed chiefly of sand, not arranged in fibres but 

 in dense irregular accumulations with comparatively clear areas 

 of soft tissue between. There are also numerous megascleres, 

 mostly arranged in very loose and irregular whisps. 



Afegascleres, straight, slender strongyla, nearly cylindrical, 

 sometimes swollen into a slight head at one end ; measuring 

 about 0-24 by 0-004 mm. 



Microscleres, (a) slender tridentate isochelte, about 0*012 mm. 

 long, with strongly curved shaft and short teeth; (b) forcipiform, 

 very slender, about 0*08 mm. long, like a pair of hair-like 

 rhaphides united at one end and curvhig somewhat apart at the 

 other. The two limbs often appear separately, and are then 

 indistinguishable from ordinary rhaphides. These spicules are 

 very numerous. 



The species makes a near approach to Carter's Forcepia 

 crassanchorata* from Port Elliot, S.A., but difiers in details of 

 spiculation. 



R.N. 607 (x, 20 f ; "ochre yellow"). 



Genus Microtyioteila, nov. gen. 



Megascleres diactinal (tylota). Microscleres isochehe and 

 microtylota, to which others may be added. 



* A.II.N.H., February, 1885, p. Ill, pi. iv., fig. 3, a-g. 



