/O EENIEEA. 



form a network with, often, triangular meshes, the sides of which are formed 

 by single spicules ; the spicules are cemented by spongin only at their ends. 



Reniera coUectrix, n. sp. 



This species is massive and generally more or less spherical, sometimes 

 slightly depressed, cake-shaped. It attains a diameter of 100 millim. and a 

 height of 80 millim. The lower surface is attached at several points. The 

 oscula are on an average 5 millim. wide and circular ; they are situated in 

 groups on the upper surface. The surface is rendered uneven by the presence 

 of rounded tubercular projections, which are on an average 2 millim. high, 

 the distribution and size of which is very variable, sometimes they are not 

 developed at all. The colour of the living sponge is dark crimson ; its 

 consistence very hard. It contains in the ground-substance a great quantity of 

 foreign material, sand-grains, &:c., some of which have a diameter of 1 millim. 

 and more. The canals are narrow and inconspicuous. Extensive lacunae are 

 found only in the vicinity of the oscular tubes, which lead from the oscula 

 vertically downward to the base of the sponge. 



The slceleton consists of strings of single spicules, which are attached to each 

 other at their ends ; others are scattered irregularly througliout the ground- 

 substance. The spkules are oxea and styli ; the former more numerous than 

 the latter ; they are straight exceptionally, also slightly and irregularly curved, 

 and measure 0*09 millim. in length and 0'003 millim. in thickness. 



GrEOGEAPHiCAL DiSTEiBUTiON. — East coast of Australia: Port Jackson, 

 N. S. W. (Lendenfeld). 



Reniera australis, n. sp. 



Massive, lobose, horizontally extended, more or less incrusting sponges, 

 with dome-shaped protuberances on the upper surface, on the summits of 

 which the circular, 3-5 millim. wide, oscula are situated. Surface smooth. 

 The sponge attains a height of 30 millim., a length of 150-200 millim., 

 and a width of 100 millim. Colour in the living state rosy red, in spirit grey. 



The skeleton consists of longitudinal fibres, which are oi\ an average 0*02 

 millim. thick, and composed of 3-5 series of rather loosely packed spicules. 

 Between these fibres a very dense network of irregularly scattered spicules is 

 observed ; the spicules constituting it are not attached to each other by any 

 cement, but appear to lie loose in the ground-substance. The spicules are 

 oxea, straight, sharp, and somewhat abruptly pointed, 0-12 millim. long and 

 0-004 millim. thick. The spicules forming the fibres are similar to those in 

 the ground-substance. 



Geogeaphical Disteibution. — East coast of Australia : Port Jackson 

 N. S. W. {Ramsau). 



