1915.) N. ANNANDALE: Notes on Freshwater Sponges. 177 
formly, though sparsely, over their surface, but their extremities 
are as a rule smooth. 
The gemmule-spicules resemble those of P. aurea but are a 
little stouter. 
The free microscleres are of two quite distinct kinds: (1) 
slender, spiny, spindle-shaped, straight or nearly straight am- 
phioxi, and (2) short, stout, cylindrical or subspherical tuber- 
culate bodies of very characteristic form. The former vary 
greatly in size and proportions ; their spines, which are scattered 
less sparsely than those of the macroscleres, are short and not 
very sharp. ‘The free microscleres of the second type are, so far 
as I am aware, unique in the Spongillidae ; their form is shown in 
the figure. 
Diameter of gemmule Ee =) $0;265, mitt. 
Length of macrosclere (average) ae 7 
Diameter of macrosclere (greatest average) 0°0084 ,, 
Length of gemmule-spicule (average) 525 OHO 3301 6. 
Length of free microsclere of type I 0°0546—0'I554_ ,, 
Diametér of free microsclere of type I 
0'002I—0'0063_s—", 
Length of free microsclere of type 2 (average) 
Ga1r26) =. 
Diameter of free microsclere of type 2 OL OOGda 
Locality.—Trichur, Cochin State, Malabar Zone. 
lype-shectmen.—Z E.V. 3790/7. Ind. Mus. 
Pectispongilla subspinosa, Annandale. 
(Fig. 5, A-B). 
IQLI. Pectuspongilla aurea vat. subspinosa, Annandale, Faun. 
Brit. Ind., Freshw Sponges. etc., p 107. 
This species is closely related to P. stellifera, with which it 
was at first confused, but lacks the aster-like microscleres charac- 
teristic of the latter. 
_ The free microscleres are not so definitely separated in o two 
kinds as in the other two species of the genus but, in the type- 
specimen from Ernakulam at any rate (fig 5A), there are a few 
spicules that closely resemble the gemmule-spicules of Spongzlla 
cratertfornis in shape, being truncate at the extrem.ties, and 
having rudimentary rotules thereat ‘These spicules are, how- 
ever, lacking in sponges recently obtained vy Mr «*. H Gravely 
at Trichur (fig 58) in which the amphioxous free microscleres 
are also” more variable. The truncate spicules may possibly be 
adventitious and until further specimens are obtained it seems 
inadvisable to separate the form discovered by Mr. Gravely as a 
species or variety. His specimens, which were growing on rocks 
in a small pool connected with a sluggish stream, are (in spirit) 
of a dull brown colour and form an irregular crust some 2 to 5 
mm. thick. The external apertures are small and inconspicuous, 
