﻿spoNGiroA. 
  461 
  

  

  horizontally 
  from 
  the 
  axis, 
  about 
  '4 
  millim. 
  apart, 
  each 
  about 
  10 
  to 
  

   20 
  spicules 
  broad 
  ; 
  the 
  spicules 
  appear 
  to 
  be 
  simply 
  imbedded 
  in 
  

   the 
  dense, 
  dull 
  yellow 
  sarcode 
  which 
  forms 
  the 
  chief 
  part 
  of 
  the 
  

   cortex, 
  and 
  they 
  project 
  about 
  '4 
  millim,, 
  diverging 
  somewhat, 
  

   from 
  its 
  surface. 
  Sarcode 
  dull 
  yellow, 
  subtransparent, 
  no 
  distinct 
  

   granules 
  visible. 
  Spicules 
  : 
  — 
  (1) 
  Skeleton 
  acuate, 
  long 
  and 
  slender, 
  

   tapering 
  gradually 
  to 
  basal 
  rounded 
  end 
  from 
  about 
  ten 
  diameters 
  

   from 
  base, 
  and 
  very 
  gradually 
  to 
  the 
  sharp 
  point 
  (the 
  basal 
  portion 
  

   is 
  thus 
  little 
  more 
  than 
  half 
  the 
  maximum 
  diameter 
  of 
  the 
  spicule) 
  ; 
  

   size 
  about 
  "7 
  by 
  "013 
  millim. 
  (2) 
  Smaller 
  acuate 
  ; 
  as 
  (1), 
  but 
  size 
  

   about 
  '5 
  by 
  '004 
  millim. 
  

  

  Hah. 
  Port 
  Darwin, 
  7-12 
  fms. 
  ; 
  bottom 
  sand 
  and 
  mud. 
  

  

  This 
  fine 
  species 
  is 
  represented 
  by 
  two 
  good 
  specimens 
  in 
  spirit, 
  

   of 
  which 
  the 
  largest 
  measures 
  160 
  millim. 
  (6| 
  inches) 
  in 
  height 
  by 
  

   4 
  millim. 
  in 
  greatest 
  thickness. 
  Near 
  the 
  base 
  the 
  axis 
  is 
  very 
  

   tough, 
  and 
  consists 
  almost 
  entirely 
  of 
  continuous 
  colourless 
  or 
  pale 
  

   amber 
  horny 
  matter 
  and 
  of 
  the 
  imbedded 
  spicules. 
  As 
  the 
  skeleton- 
  

   spicules 
  are 
  simply 
  acuate, 
  not 
  spinulate, 
  the 
  distinction 
  between 
  this 
  

   species 
  and 
  li. 
  siji-inr/eUa 
  is 
  seen 
  to 
  be 
  well 
  marked. 
  

  

  89. 
  Raspailia 
  (Syringella) 
  clathrata. 
  

   (Plate 
  XLI. 
  fig. 
  F.) 
  

  

  Erect, 
  branched 
  approximately 
  in 
  one 
  plane 
  ; 
  mode 
  of 
  branching 
  

   essentially 
  dichotomous, 
  at 
  angles 
  of 
  about 
  45°, 
  anastomosis 
  frequent. 
  

   Stem 
  rudely 
  cylindrical, 
  5 
  millim. 
  in 
  greatest 
  diameter 
  ; 
  branches 
  

   flattened 
  out 
  laterally, 
  lateral 
  margins 
  sharp 
  ; 
  lateral 
  diameter 
  of 
  

   largest 
  branches 
  5 
  millim., 
  of 
  terminal 
  branches 
  1 
  to 
  1-5 
  miUim. 
  No 
  

   vents 
  observed. 
  Surface, 
  in 
  spirit, 
  covered 
  with 
  low 
  obsolescent 
  

   ridges, 
  running 
  into 
  each 
  other. 
  Texture 
  of 
  branches 
  in 
  spirit 
  tough, 
  

   elastic 
  ; 
  the 
  terminal 
  branches 
  compressible, 
  the 
  larger 
  ones 
  hard, 
  

   the 
  stem 
  almost 
  rigid 
  ; 
  colour 
  pale 
  dirty 
  grey. 
  

  

  Skeleton 
  consisting 
  of 
  the 
  skeleton- 
  spicule 
  traversing 
  longitudinally 
  

   the 
  branches 
  and 
  stem, 
  about 
  equally 
  distributed 
  throughout 
  their 
  

   thickness, 
  and 
  of 
  horizontal 
  bundles 
  of 
  the 
  same 
  radiating 
  towards 
  

   the 
  surface, 
  about 
  3 
  or 
  4 
  bundles 
  in 
  the 
  circumference, 
  about 
  10-12 
  

   spicules 
  broad. 
  No 
  distinct 
  dermis. 
  Sarcode 
  pale 
  yellow, 
  subtrans- 
  

   parent. 
  In 
  the 
  base 
  the 
  reticulum 
  of 
  spiculo-fibre 
  is 
  backed 
  by 
  some 
  

   horizontal 
  (circular) 
  horny 
  fibres, 
  amber-yellow, 
  "9 
  millim. 
  and 
  up- 
  

   wards 
  in 
  thickness 
  ; 
  the 
  bases 
  of 
  the 
  radiating 
  tufts 
  and 
  the 
  general 
  

   reticulum 
  of 
  spicules 
  is 
  more 
  or 
  less 
  sheathed 
  in 
  horny 
  fibre 
  (which 
  

   is 
  quite 
  pale 
  in 
  this 
  place). 
  Spicules 
  smooth 
  acuate, 
  with 
  well- 
  

   rounded 
  heads, 
  tapering 
  gradually 
  to 
  fine 
  points 
  ; 
  size 
  about 
  "6 
  

   by 
  'Oil 
  millim. 
  in 
  the 
  horizontal 
  bundles, 
  from 
  •& 
  by 
  -0032 
  to 
  "G 
  

   by 
  -0095 
  millim. 
  in 
  the 
  longitudinal 
  series. 
  

  

  Hab. 
  Thursday 
  Island, 
  Torres 
  Straits, 
  7-12 
  fms. 
  ; 
  bottom 
  sand. 
  

  

  The 
  specimen 
  which 
  furnishes 
  the 
  above 
  description 
  is 
  lOSmiUim. 
  

   (4| 
  inches) 
  high 
  and 
  80 
  millim. 
  (3i 
  inches) 
  across 
  the 
  broadest 
  part. 
  

   It 
  is 
  remarkable 
  for 
  having 
  several 
  small 
  stones 
  and 
  shells 
  attached 
  

   to 
  some 
  of 
  the 
  outer 
  branches, 
  which 
  perhaps 
  indicates 
  that 
  the 
  

  

  