STELOSPOKGIA. 171 



of entirely fused inclmduals. Polejaeff's Oacospowjia amorpha from Bahia 

 does not differ at all from some of the Australian specimens of this variety. 



The living sponge is greyish yellow in the interior, and pretty light violet- 

 brown on the surface. The dry skeleton is light chestnut-brown, stiff, com- 

 pressible, and very elastic. 



The sl-eli'ton consists of broad and thin band-shaped fascicles, which are 

 joined by a loose network of connecting-fibres. The band-shaped fascicles 

 extend towards the surface, where they measure 1-6 millim. in width. On the 

 sides of the pyriform sponge they are very regularly disposed in such a manner 

 as to form the sides of radially situated pyramids, the bases of which abut on 

 the surface. The free terminal margins of the bands project, forming the 

 exquisite reticulate structure characteristic of the variety. The sides of the 

 pyramids, surrounded by fascicles, may consist of one single broad band, or 

 they are composed of a number of parallel narrow bands, which stand behind 

 each other, like the leaves of a book, and separated by intervals 0-5 millim. wide. 

 The bands are expanded perpendicularly to the side of the pyramid, which, in 

 the aggregate, they form. The individual main fibres in the fascicles are 0'12 

 millim. thick and 0-3 millim. apart, slender, knotty, and cored with small 

 spicule-fragments. The transverse fibres are slightly branched, or more often 

 simple and free from foreign bodies, 0-04-0-08 millim. thick. The meshes in 

 the fascicles are round or irregular, on an average 0*2 millim. wide. The con- 

 necting-fibres which form the network between the fascicles are 0-08-0-1 

 millim. wide, gracefully curved, and free from foreign bodies. The meshes in 

 this network are 1-4 millim. wide, polygonal, with rounded cornei's. 



Geogeaphicai. Distkibution.— South Atlantic Ocean : Bahia QChallenger'). 



Australia {Gumming). North coast of Australia : Northern Territory, S. A. 

 {Haacke). "West coast of Australia : Western Australia (Baihj). South coast 

 of Australia : Tasmania {Majendie). East coast of Australia : Port Jackson, 

 N. S. W. (Lendenfeld) ; Broughton Island {Ramsay). 



Stelospongia australis, var. levis, Polejaeff. 



Cacosjpongia levis, N. Polejaeff, Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage 

 of H.M.S. ' Challenger,' Zoology, vol. xi. part xxxi. Keratosa, p. 56 (1884). 



Erect lobose massive sponges, composed of several separate individuals which 

 stand side by side and are fused at the base. Thus a somewhat flabelliform 

 structure, attached by a small base, or sometimes pedunculate, is produced. 

 The shape of this variety is more variable than that of the others. The whole 

 sponge attains a height of 150 millim., a breadth of 120 millim., and a thick- 

 ness of 30 millim. The surface is quite smooth, except in some places where 



