﻿SPONGIIDA. 
  407 
  

  

  name, 
  for 
  waut 
  of 
  characters 
  by 
  which 
  to 
  identify 
  species 
  with 
  

   others 
  which 
  I 
  know 
  merely 
  by 
  descriptions 
  ; 
  I 
  have, 
  however, 
  given 
  

   descriptions 
  in 
  these 
  cases, 
  in 
  order 
  that 
  the 
  species 
  may 
  be 
  identified 
  

   (if 
  possible) 
  by 
  future 
  comparisons 
  with 
  specimens 
  of 
  species 
  to 
  

   which 
  I 
  have 
  not 
  access 
  at 
  present. 
  

  

  RENIERA, 
  Nardo. 
  

  

  This 
  genus 
  is 
  distinguished 
  by 
  the 
  regularity 
  of 
  its 
  main 
  skeleton, 
  

   the 
  small 
  size 
  of 
  its 
  spicules, 
  and 
  the 
  want 
  of 
  an 
  evident 
  distinct 
  

   dermal 
  skeleton. 
  The 
  latter 
  point, 
  however, 
  is 
  not 
  very 
  satisfactorily 
  

   indicated 
  in 
  all 
  the 
  species 
  which 
  seem 
  otherwise 
  referable 
  to 
  tho 
  

   genus. 
  

  

  37. 
  Reniera 
  indistincta, 
  var. 
  

  

  Isodictya 
  indistincta, 
  Botoerbank, 
  Mon. 
  Brit. 
  Spong. 
  ii. 
  p. 
  290, 
  iii. 
  

   pi. 
  li. 
  figs. 
  1-4, 
  iv. 
  p. 
  119. 
  

  

  A 
  small 
  specimen 
  in 
  spirit, 
  incrustiug 
  stones. 
  The 
  surface 
  

   is 
  smooth, 
  formed 
  of 
  a 
  thin 
  but 
  strong 
  membrane, 
  of 
  grey 
  colour 
  

   (in 
  spirit), 
  penetrated 
  by 
  moderately 
  numerous 
  round 
  perforations, 
  

   •5 
  millim. 
  across. 
  Vents 
  few, 
  occasionally 
  slightly 
  elevated, 
  2 
  to 
  3 
  

   millim. 
  in 
  diameter. 
  Main 
  skeleton 
  agreeing 
  fairly 
  with 
  the 
  typical 
  

   specimen 
  of 
  the 
  species 
  ; 
  a 
  dermal 
  network, 
  uni- 
  to 
  bispicular 
  (in 
  

   the 
  tyije 
  specimen 
  it 
  appears 
  to 
  exist, 
  although 
  Bowerbank 
  denies 
  

   it, 
  but 
  it 
  is 
  somewhat 
  irregular 
  there). 
  Barcode 
  yellowish 
  brown, 
  

   slightly 
  granular 
  (it 
  is 
  more 
  yellow 
  in 
  the 
  type). 
  Spicules 
  : 
  shape 
  

   as 
  in 
  type 
  ; 
  size 
  -16 
  by 
  "0063 
  millim., 
  the 
  same 
  as 
  in 
  the 
  type. 
  The 
  

   vents 
  are 
  ratlier 
  smaller 
  in 
  the 
  type, 
  and 
  the 
  colour 
  in 
  the 
  dry 
  state 
  

   is 
  reddish 
  brown 
  ; 
  but 
  the 
  agreement 
  in 
  the 
  characters 
  on 
  the 
  whole 
  

   is 
  so 
  close 
  that 
  I 
  have 
  little 
  hesitation 
  in 
  making 
  this 
  identifi- 
  

   cation. 
  

  

  Hah. 
  Prince 
  of 
  Wales 
  Channel, 
  Torres 
  Straits, 
  7-9 
  fms. 
  

  

  Distribution. 
  British 
  Islands 
  and 
  Guernsey 
  (Bowerbanh). 
  

  

  A 
  specimen 
  without 
  distinct 
  vents, 
  but 
  with 
  a 
  curious 
  system 
  of 
  

   branching 
  grooves 
  on 
  the 
  surface, 
  and 
  of 
  a 
  dark 
  greenish 
  colour, 
  

   appears 
  to 
  be 
  also 
  referable 
  to 
  this 
  form. 
  

  

  Hub. 
  Alert 
  Island, 
  Torres 
  Straits, 
  7 
  fms. 
  

  

  ■ 
  38. 
  Eeniera 
  scyphonoides. 
  

   Spongia 
  scyphonoides, 
  Lamarck, 
  Ann. 
  Mus. 
  Hist. 
  Nat. 
  xx. 
  p. 
  437. 
  

  

  An 
  elegant, 
  slightly 
  tortuous, 
  tubular 
  Reniera, 
  45 
  millim. 
  high, 
  

   tapering 
  from 
  its 
  subcylindrical 
  basal 
  portion, 
  which 
  is 
  3-4 
  millim. 
  

   thick, 
  to 
  an 
  elliptical, 
  slightly 
  bullate 
  summit, 
  preceded 
  immediately 
  

   by 
  a 
  more 
  decidedly 
  flattened 
  portion, 
  the 
  two 
  diameters 
  of 
  which 
  

   are 
  respectively 
  4 
  and 
  8 
  millim. 
  Long 
  and 
  short 
  diameters 
  of 
  mouth 
  

   of 
  tube 
  2i 
  and 
  4 
  millim. 
  respectively. 
  Two 
  small 
  vents, 
  1 
  millim. 
  in 
  

   diameter, 
  open 
  on 
  one 
  margin 
  of 
  the 
  compressed 
  part 
  of 
  the 
  sponge, 
  

   and 
  one 
  of 
  about 
  "4 
  millim. 
  diameter 
  on 
  the 
  opposite 
  margin. 
  

  

  