AXINEIvLA, 



235 



Axinella hispida, var. gracilis, nov. 



The sponge consists of a small bancb of cylindrical digitate processes, which 

 are slightly ramified. It attains a height of 120 millim. The cylindrical 

 branches have a regularly circular transverse section, and are about 4 millim. 



thick. 



The spicules of the supporting skeleton are 0-J4 millim. long and 0-005 



millim. thick. 



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



N. S. W. (Lendeufeld). 



Axinella hispida, var. tenella, nov. 



Small, soft, and resilient sponges, which appear as bushes of slightly 

 compressed digitate branches, ramifying in an irregularly dichotomous 

 manner, and attaining a height of 40 millim. They are slightly widened 

 distally, and appear truncate. 



The spicules of the supporting skeleton are chiefly styli, 0-2 millim. long and 

 0-005 millim. thick. 



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

 N. S. W. (Lendenfeld). 



Axinella aurantiaca, n. sp. 



(Plate V. fig. 1.) 



Large and pretty stiff sponges, which are branched in a regularly dichoto- 

 mous manner. The branches are regularly cylindrical, and taper towards their 

 ends, in some cases so much so that they appear pointed. The surface is 

 smooth, not velvet-like as in most of the other species. The processes are on 

 an average 8-10 milhm. thick, and not so frequently branched as in other 

 species. The whole sponge attains a height of 200 milhm. It is, in the living 

 state, of a bright orange colour. In spirit it becomes pale. 



The skeleton consists of a dense network of slightly curved styli, measuring 

 0-29x0-007 millim., pervaded by fibres 0-1 millim. thick, composed of similar 

 spicules, in the axis. In the lacunose superficial layer, which is about 1 millim. 

 thick, no scattered spicules are observed. This part of the sponge is pervaded 

 only by the plumose fibres, which abut on the surface with trumpet-shaped 

 extensions. Microsclera absent. 



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

 JN". S. W. {Kamsaif, Lendenfeld). 



