68 CHONDEIHA. 



Subordo OLIGOSILICINA. 



Cliondrospongise without any supporting skeleton. Micro- 

 sclera, when present, stellate. 



Familia CHONDRILLID^. 



Oligosilicina with stellate microsclera and a distinct cortical 

 layer. 



The microsclera of this Subfamily are of a very simple kind, and all represent 

 the shape of a spined ball with numerous irregularly disposed axes ; the axes 

 are represented by the spines which radiate from the sphere ; the possible 

 variations are that the spines may attain a relative great length, whilst the 

 diameter of the central solid sphere is inconsiderable ; in this way the star- 

 shaped spicule is produced; the spines of this may be smooth or rough, serrated 

 by secondary spines of a very small size. If the central solid sphere attains 

 a large size and the spines become small, then the shape of a spiny ball is 

 attained, which may be more like a Datura fruit, or a Swiss " Moi'genstern," 

 according to whether the spines are numerous and slender, or not numerous, 

 short and thick. 



Genus CHONDRILLA. 



Chondrillidse in which the commencement of the inhalant canal- 

 system consists of a great number of parallel radial canals, leading 

 from the inhalant pores direct into tangential canals, which collect 

 the water, and from which the inhalant system of the pulpa 

 originates. 



Chondrilla secunda, Lendenfeld. 



Cliondrilla nucula, H. J. Carter, " Description of Sponges from the Neigh- 

 bourhood of Port Phillip Heads, South Australia," Annals and Magazine 

 of Natural History, ser. 5, vol. xv, p. 200 (1885). 



Chondrilla secunda, E. von Lendenfeld, " A Monograph of the Australian 

 Sponges, Part IV. — II. Ordo Myxospongia, Haeckel" Proceedings of the 

 Linnean Society of New South Wales, vol. x. part 1, p. 15 (1885). 



Chondrilla secunda, R. von Lendenfeld, " Notes to the Australian Sponges 

 recently described by Carter " (Description of Sponges from the Neigh- 



