386 Records of the Indian Museum. | Vor.-V bE 
wide arc and bears at either end a more or less distinct knob ; 
the concave surface is slightly flattened and almost smooth, 
whereas the convex is rounded and densely covered with minute 
spines of somewhat unequal size; the length ts usually from 
3 to 4 times the thickness in the middle, but the proportions 
are variable. 
Gemmules.—The gemmules are spherical and lie each in a 
little loculus in the skeleton near the base of the sponge. They do 
not, however, appear to be fixed to its support and the specimens 
Fic. 1.—Spicules and skeleton of Spongilla gravelyi. 
. Megascleres, x 250. 
. Gemmule-spicules, x 250. 
. Vertical section through part of skeleton from external surface down- 
2 x 70. 
> 
Ow 
ward 
n 
do not possess a basal membrane. Each gemmule has a single 
aperture provided with a short cylindrical foraminal tubule. 
Type.—No. Z.E.V. **27, Ind. Mus. (a dried specimen collected 
by Mr. Gravely in May, 1912). 
Locality.—Pool in the Koyna River at Taloshi, Satara dis- 
trict, on the eastern slope of the Ghats. 
This sponge is closely related to Spongilla sumatrana, Weber, 
which (fide Weltner) occurs in tropical Africa (in varietal forms) 
as well as in Sumatra. It is distinguished from that species by 
its peculiar gemmule-spicules, much more strongly spined flesh- 
spicules and smoother megascleres. From S. indica, its closest 
