28 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 



by a ratlier thin but very dense and hard cortex. Colour in 

 spirit, where visible, pale yellow or brown. 



Skeleton, in the interior of the body are scattered many 

 megascleres, not arranged in definite fibres. In tlie cortex they 

 are very densely packed, lying in various directions, more or less 

 parallel to the surface, and forming a thick solid crust. In the 

 walls of the fistulje they are arranged in loose, stout bands or 

 fibres, which form an irregular network, with many spicules 

 scattered in the meshes between. 



Megascleres, straight or slightly-curved strongyia or tylota, 

 with slightly-developed oval heads ; size about 0-4 by 0-008 ram., 

 but variable, sometimes much longer and slenderer. 



Microscleres, (a) amphiasters (birotulates), varying in size up 

 to about 0-05 mm. long, with shaft 0-0042 mm. thick. The 

 shaft is commonly slightly constricted in the middle, and may be 

 thickened at each side of the constriction. The umbrella-like 

 ends may have as many as nine teeth or ribs ; (/>) slender sigmata, 

 say 0-04 mm. from bend to bend, but variable. Neither kind of 

 microsclere is abundant, and they might easily be overlooked. 



Ji.N. 942 (x A). 



B.Af. sp. 35 {"■ Phhvodictyon hirotuUferiinir Reg. 87-7-11-12). 



Genus Daniiria, Keller. 



Skeleton reticulate. Megascleres of two forms, both diactinal ; 

 those of the main skeleton oxea, those of the dei-mal skeleton 

 tylota (? sometimes strongylote or tornote). 



Microscleres isochela?, usually accompanied by sigmata. 



Not having access here to Keller's original description, I owe 

 my information as to this genus to Topsent's useful paper, " Una 

 Reforme dans la Chissification des Halichondrina."* 



Damiria austmlieiisis, n. sp. 



Form very variable, langing from massive to digitate ; with 

 conulose or meandriniform surface and delicate dermal mem- 

 brane between the projecting portions. Vents variable, large or 

 small, scattered or on mammiform or digitiforra projections. 

 Texture soft and spongy. Colour in spirit pale yellow. 



* Mi-nioires de la SociOtO Zoologique de France. Tome VII. , p. 5, 1894 



