.SPONGES. HALLMANN. jgq 



I'his description was, it seems, based upon a large number of 

 specimens. Two ramose varieties herein described come from 

 the same region as the type, viz., one from St. Vincent's 

 Gulf, South Australia, the other from Western Australia, but 

 in both cases the specimens representing them are stipitate ; 

 moreover, their spicules do not exactly accord with those 

 mentioned by Carter. Under the circumstances, they have 

 been recorded as new. Echinonema iypicum, Carter, is 

 urgently in need of re-description. The South African sponge 

 identified with it by Kirkpatrick is quite a different species 

 from that to which the present sponges belong, and in certain 

 features departs widely from typical species of the Clathria- 

 Rhaphidophlus group. The varieties of Echinonema anchor- 

 aluni described b}- Lendenfeld appear to be species assignable 

 to WilsoncUa {q.v.). 



In order to avoid needless verbal repetition, it is advisable, 

 before proceeding to the description of the several varieties, 

 to render a more particular account of those features which 

 characterise the species as a whole, and are of no diagnostic 

 value so far as the varieties themselves are concerned. It is 

 necessary at this point, to mention that all the specimens at my 

 disposal are in a dry state of preservation, and with the ex- 

 ception of those of the var. anchoratus, retain only traces of 

 the dermal layer. Nevertheless, it is doubtful, even if spirit- 

 specimens had been available, whether any additional criteria 

 for the discrimination of the varieties would have been forth- 

 coming, except, perhaps, in three particulars, viz., the width 

 of the mesh of the dermal reticulation, the deportment of the 

 main fibres in their approach to the surface, and the maximum 

 size of the special dermal styli. 



The most striking skeletal features are: — (i.) the absence 

 of spicules from almost all the connecting fibres, and their 

 abundance in the main fibres, in which they form a compara- 

 tively stout, rather compact core; and (ii.) the profusion of 

 scattered spicules in the tissues between the fibres. In a thin 

 longitudinal section mounted in balsam and viewed with the 

 naked eye, the loosely branched main fibres, on account of 

 their contained spicules and greater stoutness, stand out con- 

 spicuously ; whilst between them is to be seen only a dim 

 haziness due to the individually imperceptible transverse fibres 

 and scattered spicules. The appearance thus presented is very 

 characteristic and enables one to readily recognise mounted 

 sections of the species without microscopical examination. 

 Where the main fibres lie close together, they are directly 

 joined by short transverse fibres and the intervening meshes 

 are rectangular, but where, owing to their divergence, the main 

 fibres become widely separated, the connecting fibres may form 



