CLATHRISSA. — ECHINOIfEMA. 219 



Clathrissa pumila, var. rubra, nov. 



Massive or incriisting sponges with small conuli about 1 millim. high, which 

 are very close together. The largest specimens attain a height of 20 millim. 

 The colour of the living sponge is bright scarlet. 



The skeleton is similar to that of the species. 



GrEOGRAPHiCAL DiSTEiBTTTiON. — East coast of Australia : Port Jackson, 

 N. S. W. {LendenfeU). 



Genus ECHINONEMA. 



Desmacidonidse with fibres which are so excessively echinated 

 that the dense masses of echinating spicules hide the fibre from 

 view. 



Echinonema anchoratum, Carter. 



Eehiyionema anclioratum, H. J. Carter, " Supplementary Eeport on the Speci- 

 mens dredged up from the Gulf of Manaar, together with others from the 

 vicinity of Bass Eocks and from Bass Straits respectively," &c.. Annals 

 and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 5, vol. vii. p. 378 (1881). 



Digitate, irregularly branched sponges, which are generally very hard. 



The skeleton consists of a more or less dense network of horny fibres, which 

 are cored with siliceous spicules, and in the different varieties from 0*04- 

 0*07 miUim. thick. The spicules form an axial thread in their centre. They 

 are situated longitudinally and pretty abundant : oxea in the different varieties 

 from 0-1-0-27 millim. long and from 0-004-0-006 millim. thick. The fibres 

 are densely echinated by spined styli. The spines are very numerous, high, 

 and sharp. The styli are in the different varieties from 0-074-0'095 millim. long, 

 and 0-006-0-01 millim, thick at the base, which is inserted in the clear cortical 

 spongin-layer of the fibre. The chelse in the ground-substance are isochelse, 

 with long and sharp marginal teeth, and small rounded central lobes ; they 

 are 0*014 millim. long and much curved. 



Echinonema anchoratum, var. ramosa, nov. 



Small, erect, digitate sponges with irregular and high processes all over the 

 surface. 



The skeleton is composed of a dense network of fibres 0-04 millim. thick. 

 Spicules : oxea 0*16 millim. long and 0"004 millim. thick, abundant in the 



