_2l8 'ENDEAVOUil" SCIENTCFiC KESULTS. 



Microsclcres. — 



These are of one kind only, \iz., long very slender, hair-like 

 sinuous spicules of indefinite form, which are undoubtedly 

 modified toxa. They are scattered singly and are moderately 

 abundant, and may attain a length of (at least) 260 p. 



Loc. — East coast of Flinders Island, Bass vStrait 

 ("Endeavour"). 



Clathria Kuiucxs, Lojdciiicld. 

 (Plate xxxii., (ig. i, and iig. 45.) 



1888. Thalassoiloidi-on nibois, var. iliird (pars), Lendenfeld, 

 Cat. Sponges Austr. Mus., iSSS, p. 221^. 



ThaJassodctuhon nibciis, \ar. kiDicIhi (pars), Lenden- 

 feld, Loc. cit. 



.1901. Claihria nthcus (pars), W'hitelegge, Rec. Austr. Mus., 

 i\-., J, pp. 85, S6, pi. xi., fig. 13. 



{I'halassodcndron ntbciis), Whitelegge, Loc. cit., p. 86. 



Sponge profusely ramose, stipitatc, hranching poJv- 

 tomously with anastomosis. Branches cylindrical except 

 at nodes. ''Asterisks'''' {of radiately-disposcd grooves), 

 sometimes associated each with a conical process, occur 

 at intervals over the otherwise even surface. Dermal 

 membrane very thin, indistinct ; coritairiing scattered 

 horizontally-lying {auxiliary) spicules. Main skeleton an 

 irregular reticulation of well-developed horny fibres, all 

 of which contain slender axial spicules {principal styli). 

 those in the main fibres arranged in a fairly compact thin 

 core. Principal styli of stouter proportiotis than those 

 within the fibres, occur sporadically as echinating spicules 

 and. are scattered inter stitially along with a few {auxiliary) 

 iylostyli. Accessory {echinating and scattered) acantho- 

 styh's are somewhat scarce, and spictdes occur {although 

 rather rarely) which are intermediate in form between 

 them and the principal styli. Megascleres : — {i.) Principal 

 styli {proper), straight, smooth, subfusiform, rarely 765 

 X 10 p.; (a.) accessory acanthostyli {proper), small- 

 spined, rarely 80 x 6 }i; {Hi.) auxiliary subtylostyli, ijo x 

 J. 5 p. Microsclcres : — (1.) Scarce isochelce palmatcB, 8- 

 12 \i long ; {ii.) slender toxa of characteristic form, 160 to 

 .260 n long. 



