192 TEDANIA. — PHOEIOSPONGIA. 



average 0*3 millim. long aud 0-006 millim. thick, cylindrical, abruptly pointed. 

 The rounded end often appears slightly thickened. Very thin and irregularly 

 curved hair-like spicules are pretty abundant, particularly in the surface. 



Geogeaphical Distribution. — East coast of Australia : Port Jackson, 

 N. S. W. {Ramsay). 



Tedania tenuispina, n. sp. 



Small, elegantly branched, erect sponges, attached by a small base, and 

 attaining a height of 60 millim. The branches grow up in one plane, are angu- 

 larly bent, and appear somewhat antler-shaped. The surface is roughened by 

 projecting spicules. The oscula measure 1 millim. in diameter, are circular, 

 numerous, and scattered. The colour of the living sponge is bright orange- 

 yellow. 



The skeleton consists of a network of spicule-bundles, 0-03 millim. thick, the 

 meshes of which are occupied by dense masses of irregularly scattered spicules. 

 The spicules are chiefly styli, a few tylota and oxea are also found. The styli 

 are abruptly pointed at the one, and not thickened at the other, blunt end. 

 They are on an average 0-22 millim. long and 0-006 millim. thick. Besides these 

 a few large spirally curved spicules, equal in size to the styli, are also found. 



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

 N. S. W. {Ramsay). 



Familia SPONGELID^. 



Cornacuspongise with large sac-shaped ciHated chambers, a clear 

 ground-substance, and a supporting-skeleton composed of solid 

 horny fibres which are destitute of proper spicules. 



Subfamilia PHORIOSPONGINiE. 



Spongelidse with proper spicules, sigraata, or rods in the ground- 

 substance. 



Genus PHORIOSPONGIA. 



Spongelidse with a skeleton composed of abundant large scat- 

 tered sand-grains, which are partly joined by slender fibres ; 

 with rod-shaped spicules and large sigmata in the ground- 

 substance. 



