SIPIIONOCaALINA. — SIPnOJfELLA. i) 7 



Siphonochalina osculata, var. micropora, Lendenfeld. 



Siphonochalina osculata, vai\ micropora, E.. v. Lendenfeld, " Die Chalineeu des 

 anstralischen Gebietes," Zoologische Jabrbiicher (Spengel), Band ii. Seite 



807 (1887). 



Very hard sponges which are composed of tiibuhir branches 150 millim. 

 long, 20 millim. thick. The surface is covered with pretty abundant, high, 

 and slender conuli. The scattered oscula are 2-4 millim. wide. 



The skeleton consists of a network with meshes 0'3 millim. wide and fibres 

 0-1 thick. The spicules occupy in dense masses the whole of the fibre ; they 

 are oxea 0-08 millim. long and 0-002 millim. thick. 



GrEOGEAPHiCAL DiSTRiBUTiojiT. — East and Nortli coasts of Australia : Port 

 Jackson, N. S. W. {Lendenfeld) ; Torres Straits (Macleai/). 



Genus SIPHONELLA. 



Wide, tubular Sipliohinse, with rounded irregular excrescences 

 on the outer surface but without conuli. Very soft and tender. 

 The fibres of the skeleton are pretty thick. The main fibres 

 contain very few and small spicules ; the connecting-fibres are 

 entirely free from spicules. 



This genus is transitional between Slphmochalina and Ghalinopsilla, and 

 connects the Chalininae with the Horny Sponges (Fam. Spongidae). 



Siphonella truncata, liendenfeld. 



Siphonella truncata, R. v, Lendenfeld, " Die Chalineen des anstralischen Ge- 

 bietes," Zoologische Jabrbiicher (Spengel), Band ii. Seite 808 (1887). 



Tall, distally distended, somewhat calyciform tubes which attain a height 

 of 220 millim. and a width at the upper end of 45 millim. The terminal 

 praeosculum is 25 millim. wide. The outer surface is covered with very 

 abundant, irregular rounded excrescences. The dry skeleton is exceedingly 

 tender, soft, and light. 



The skeleton consists of a network with meshes 0-13 millim. wide and fibres 

 0-046 millim. thick. The spicules are very abundant : styli, 0-096 millim. long 

 and 0-002 millim. thick. 



Geogeaphical Distbibution.— East coast of Australia : Port Jackson. 

 X. S. W. {Bo.msa;i). 



u 



