SP0NGP:S. - HALLMANN. ] 5- 



1901. Plunwhalicliomlrin (iiistraJis {pars), Whitelegge, Rec. 

 Austr. Mus.. i\-., 2, 1901, p. 90, pi. xl., fii^s. 14, 14a. 



(Ecliinotu'Dhi Jcvvis), W'hitelegge, Loc. cif., p. 91,, 



p. 2 12. 



{Clalhria )iuur(>p()rii), Whitelei^ge, Loc. cit., p. 91. 



[1888 ? Not (latlirid uiacnipoi'H, Lendenfeld, Cat. Sponges- 

 Austr. Mus., iSSS.] 



Form variable, raugitig from stib-massivc and plate- 

 like to chtmsily ramose. Oscula small, distantly scat- 

 tered, often situated {si)igly) on the apices of conical 

 prominences. A distinctive feature is the arrangement 

 of the suhderma] oscular canals; these become con- 

 spicuous o)ily in tJie viciiiity of the oscida, each of ivliich 

 forms a common arifice for several canals ru}ini)ig more 

 or less radiatingly towards it. Te.xture dense. Fibres 

 cored by oxea and acantho styles, and moderately densely 

 echinated by the latter. Dermal skeleton reticxdate. 

 Megasclercs, maximum sices: — {i.) Oxea, igo x 6 }.i : (//.)' 

 principal acanlhostyles, 180 x 8 ]i; derma] acantho styles,. 

 100 X 6 /(. Isocliehc arcuatce, 16 to 22 f( long. 



Introductory Remarks. — The original descriptions state 

 that the coring spicules of the fibres are styli ; but with this 

 exception, the descriptions accord fairly well on the whole 

 with requirements, and there can scarcely be the slightest 

 doubt that the sponges under consideration are identical 

 with those to which Lendenfeld referred. The variety 

 is well represented in the Museum Collection, and among the 

 specimens are quite a number bearing labels in Lendenfeld 's 

 writing. The specific name rubra, however, occurs in con- 

 nection with onlv one of these and, even so, in association with 

 the generic name Clathrissa. But Whitelegge has already 

 pointed out that a co-type specimen of E. nubra in the British 

 Museum is of the same species as E. levis, and the original 

 descriptions also point to the identity of the two. Moreover, 

 one is led to conclude that Lendenfeld himself subsequently 

 recognised their identity, since, included among the specimens 

 labelled by him E. levis, there are some which, like the original 

 specimens of E. rubra retain in alcohol a bright scarlet colour. 

 It is prettv certain, therefore, that E. rid>ra is correctly a 

 synonym of E. levis. 



On the other hand, the identification of Clathria macropora, 

 Ldf., with this species is slightly beyond reason, and one can 

 onlv assume, for the present, that the "type" specimens of 



