759 



2. Linnean Society of New South Wales. 



28tli October, 1885. — 1) Notes from the Australian Museum. By 

 ü. von Lendenfeld, Ph.D. Note 1. The Vestibule sjiace of Dendrilki 

 cavernosa. In this note a very remarkable structure is described; the sponge 

 forms wide ramified tubes with thin walls ; and the terminations of these 

 tubes are closed by sieves, as in Eiqilectella . Rings of sensitive and ganglia 

 cells are described round the pores in this membrane. Gland cells similar 

 to those of othéi* Ajylysillidce are also described. — Note 2. Raphyrus Hixonii, 

 a new gigantic sponge from Port Jackson. A sponge weighing over 4001bs. 

 was recently dredged in Port Jackson. A detailed description of it is given 

 in this note. The aiithor wishes to keep the two genera Papillina and Ra- 

 phyrus, combined by O. Schmidt and Norman, distinct. He has found be- 

 sides the spicules known of the European species, two other kinds in this 

 Australian sponge. The structure of the whole sponge is reticulate, as in 

 the Auleninae. Remarkable very granular amoeboid cells, which are very 

 abundant around the inhalent lacunes, are described as digestive cells. — 

 Note 3. Holme tingens n. sp. A sponge with peculiar staining qualities. 

 This is a sponge from Thursday Island, which becomes blue after some time, 

 and stains paper, etc., placed in the same spirit with it of a remarkably 

 dark blue. The spirit remains light yellow. The author thinks that this 

 colour might be turned to practical account. — Note 4. A case of Mimicry. 

 Four sponges are described and photographed in this note. Two are Cerao- 

 spongiœ, and two are Monactinellœ . The two former belong to the genus Cha~ 

 linopsis, R. V, L.; the two latter to the genus Dactylochalina. The author 

 agrees with Vosmaer, that the horny sponges have descended from the Mon- 

 aclmellid siliceous sponges. Forms like those described connect the two 

 groups. Their similarity in external appearance is considered a case of 

 mimicry. Whilst the internal structure changed and the sponge lost its spi- 

 cules, it kept up a close resemblance to the ancestral siliceous sponge which 

 was defended by its spicules. The case is a very interesting one. — 2) De- 

 scriptions of some new or rare Australian Fishes. By E. P. Ramsay, 

 F.R.S.E. etc., and J. Douglas-Ogilby, Esq. The species here described are 

 Pteroplatea australis, Sebastes scaler, and Platycephalus arenarius, all new spe- 

 cies, and Cirrhitichthys graphidopterum, and Lepidotrigla pleur acanthica, species 

 previously, known. — 3) On the genus Trachichthys. By J. Douglas- 

 Ogilby, Esq. A full description and synonomy of the genus is here given, 

 the author expressing an opinion that the T. australis Shaw, and T. Jack- 

 sonensis Macleay are the same species. — 4) Catalogue of Australian Coleo- 

 ptera. Part II. By George Masters, Esq. The Families catalogued in this 

 Part are the Dytiscidce, Gyrinidce, Staphylinidœ, Pselaphidce, Paussidce, Scyd- 

 mœnidœ, Silphidœ, Trichopterygidœ, Scaphididœ, Histeridœ, Phalacridœ, Niti- 

 clulidcE, Trogositidœ, Colydidce, RhysodidcB, Cucujidce, Cryptophagidœ , Latrididœ, 

 Mycetophagidœ, Dermesfidœ, Byrrhidœ, Georyssidœ, Parm'dce, Heteroceridce, in 

 ail 970 species. — 5) The Plagiostomata of the Pacific. No. III. By N. de 

 Miklouho-Maclay and William Macleay, F.L.S. Three fishes are 

 here described. 1 . A Heterodontus from the Chinese Seas, identified as the 

 true Heterodontus Zebra of Gray, hitherto looked upon as a synonym of H. 

 Phillippi. 2. A species of Ray [Myliohatis punc talus), taken in 1879 in the 



