190 . GELLIUS. — TEDANIA. 



and 0-003 milliin. thick, o£ very variable shape. The sigmata either form simple 

 curves or spirals. They are very numerous and found in all parts of the 

 sponge. On the surface where the megasclera are more abundant the sigmata 

 are not so numerous as in the interior. 



GrEOGRAPHicAL DiSTKiBUTioN. — East coast of Australia : Port Jackson, 

 N. S. W. {Ramsay). 



Gellius raphidiophora, u. sp. 



Massive sponges which are attached by a broad base and attain a height of 

 50 millim. With large and conspicuous oscula, which are generally situated 

 on the summits of the irregular elevations which protrude from the upper 

 surface of the sponge. 



The skeleton consists of loose spicule-bundles connected by single spicules. 

 The megasclera are oxea, straight or slightly curved, cylindrical in the middle, 

 with sharp and rather abruptly pointed ends, on an average 0-24 millim. long; 

 their thickness is exceedingly variable, from 0"002-0-00fi millim. Microsclera 

 sigmata, scattered in the ground-substance, not numerous and very small, on 

 an average 0*018 millim. long and 0-0001 millim. thick. 



Geographical Disteibtjtion. — East coast of Australia: Port Jackson, 

 N. S. W. {Ramsay, Lendenfeld). 



Subfamilia TEDANIIN^. 



Megasclera styli, oxea or tylota. Microsclera long hair-like 

 tricliites. 



Genus TEDANIA. 



Heterorrhaphidse with smooth megasclera and the trichite 

 microsclera. 



Tedania rubicunda, n. sp. 



Massive sponges with smooth surface, from the upper surface of which digi- 

 tate processes arise. These are at the base 30-40 millim. thick, 50 millim. 

 long, conic, tapering rapidly towards their distal ends. On the summits of 

 these conical processes the oscula are situated. The sides of the distal pox-tions 

 of these processes are excavated by deep longitudinal grooves, which reach 

 nearly down to the central oscular tube. The sponge is, in the living state, of 

 a bright orange-red colour. This colour is more pronounced and intense on 

 the surface than in the interior. 



