104 Rccoyds of flic Indian Muscuni. [Vol. Ill, 1909.] 



Spicules. — Skeleton spicules smooth, sharply pointed, straight 

 or nearly so. Gemmule spicules minute, with the stem smooth 

 and cylindrical, relatively stout, and much longer than the comb at 

 either end ; the two combs equal, with a number of minute, irregu- 

 larh' scattered spines between the two rows of stouter ones. No 

 free microscleres. 



Gemmulcs minute, spherical, with a single aperture, which is 

 provided with a very short foramina! tubule ; the granular coat 

 well developed ; the spicules arranged in a slanting position, but 

 more nearly vertically than horizontally, with the combs pointing 

 in all directions ; no external chitinous membrane. 



lycngth of skeleton spicule . . . . 0*2859 n^^- 



Greatest diameter of skeleton spicule . . o"oi4 ,, 



Length of gemmule spicule . . . . 0"032 — 0*036 mm. 



lycngth of comb of gemmule spicule . . o"oi6 mm. 



Greatest diameter of shaft of gemmule 0*004 ,, 



spicule. 



Diameter of gemmule .. .. 0*204 — 0*221 mm. 



Habitat. — Artificial pool on the road near Tenmalai on the 

 western side of the Western Ghats, Travancore ; on the roots of 

 trees growing at the edge; November, 1908. 



I have not been able to detect vesicular cells in the paren- 

 chyma of this species, although my specimens are in good con- 

 dition. Pectispongilla aurea is by far the most brilliantly coloured 

 freshwater sponge I have seen. 



