1909. J N. Annandale : Notes on Freshwater Sponges. 103 



The spicules of the Tiavancore specimen are, therefore, a trifle 

 larger than those of the American one, but the proportions are 

 closely similar. 



The other Indian species I have been enabled by the gift of 

 the Smithsonian Institution to identify with American ones are 

 my Ephydatia indiea, which becomes a synonym of E. craieri- 

 forinis (Potts), and Trochospongilla phillottiana, which is identical 

 with T. leidyi (Carter). 



It is interesting to note that none of these American species is 

 confined in India to the immediate neighbourhood of the sea. 

 E. eratcriforniis has been found not only in Calcutta but also 

 at Igatpuri in the Western Ghats and at a place some miles inland 

 from Moulmein in Lower Burma. T. leidyi occurs both in Calcutta 

 and in the interior of Tenasserim ; while my specimens of Tuhella 

 pennsylvanica were taken (in November, 1908) in Shasthancottah 

 lake, which is situated about three miles inland from the viUage 

 of the same name on the backwater and about twelve miles N.-N.-E. 

 from Ouilon on the coast of Travancore. 



The South Indian specimens were taken on the roots of float- 

 ing water plants so matted together as to form large floating 

 islands on which shrubs and even trees were growing. The 

 sponges were only found on roots dragged out from under the 

 islands and seemed to shun the light. 



Genus Pectispongilla, gen. nov. 



Structure of the sponge resembling that of Ephydatia. Gem- 

 mule spicules bearing at either end, on one side only, a double row 

 of spines, so that they resemble, when viewed in profile, a couple 

 of combs joined together by a smooth bar. 



This new genus is distinguished, as are most of those pre- 

 viously described in the Spongillinse, by the form of its gemmule 

 spicules. These difter from the spicules of any form hitherto 

 described in having the armature of the extremities bilateral instead 

 of radial. Probably this arrangement is derived from that of a 

 spicule such as the birotulate of Ephydatia by a rotation of the 

 axis of the rotules. 



Pectispongilla aurea, sp. nov. 



Sponge forming small, soft, cushion-like masses of a deep 

 golden colour (duU yellow in spirit) on a solid support ; the surface 

 smooth, minutely hispid. One relatively large, depressed osculum 

 usually present in each sponge ; pores inconspicuous ; dermal mem- 

 brane in close contact with the parenchyma. 



Skeleton consisting of slender and feebly coherent radiating 

 fibres as a rule two or three spicules thick, with single spicules or 

 ill-defined transverse fibres running horizontally. Towards the 

 external surface transverse spicules are numerous, but they do not 

 form any very regular structure. 



