242 



•ENDEAVOUR" SCIENTIFIC EESULTS. 



Clatlifia indica, Dendy.^ Except in habit of growth this. 

 species appears to bear a certain amount of resemblance to the 

 last-mentioned. The spicules are "smooth slender styli (verg- 

 ing upon the tylostylote form) or unequal-ended oxea," which, 

 measure about 140 x 3 fi, and "small straight entirely spined 

 styli, gradually and sharply pointed at the apex and frequently 

 narrowing somewhat at the base." There are no microscleres. 



Clathria dura, W'hitelegge.^ Sponge ramose; branches 

 compressed, ramifying and usually reticulating in one plane. 

 Oscula marginal. The skeleton is a reticulation of stout, 

 rather densely echinated pale horny fibres, of which both the 

 main and connecting contain a compact spicular core. There 

 is a dermal skeleton of scattered acanthostyles. The coring 

 spicules are slightly curved, fusiform styli, with a tendency 

 to pass into forms resembling tornotoxea, \arying in length 

 from 75 to 100 >^, and not more than 4.5 // in diameter. The 

 acanthostyles are often strongyliform and attain a size of 

 65 X 8 K, but rarely exceed 6 ;* in diameter. The microscleres 

 are slender isochelse arcuatae i6-igj< long. 



Clathria tnyxilloides, Dendy.^ According to description 

 this sponge is massive, depressed, cake-like. Oscula (?). 

 The skeleton is a very loose and irregular reticulation of stout, 

 mostly longitudinal, whisp-like fibres. Smooth styli, 300 x 

 4.2 |i; acanthostyles 130 x 5 fi ; microscleres, arcuate isochelae 

 25 n long. 



Clathria imperfecta, Dendy.^ Sponge compressed, cake- 

 like, crumbling. Oscula {?). Skeleton resembling that of the 

 preceding species. Smooth styli 200 x 6.2 n ; acanthostyles 

 100 X 5 ji. No microscleres. 



Tliaktssodeiuhou typica, Lendenfeld {vide p. 203). A sub- 

 caliculate or flabelliform sponge, with longitudinally ridged 

 surface. According to description, the skeleton is reticulate, 

 with aspiculous connecting fibres and stout main fibres filled 

 with straight styli 200 x 5 p in size. The echinating styli are 

 scarce, smooth or slightly spined and attain a size of 70 x 8 /j. 

 Microscleres are not mentioned. 



Plectispa macropora, Lendenfeld [vide p. 205). Small mas- 

 sive or incrusting honeycomb-like sponges with a reticulate 



1 Dendy— Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6), iii., 1889, p. 84, pi. iv., fig. 10. 



2 Whitelegge— Eec. Austr. Mus., iv.. p. 83; pi. xl., fig. 11. Hentschel has 

 recently described a West Australian sponge under the name of Clathria 

 dura, Whitelegge, var. mollis, which possesses isochelte palmatae and 

 toxa, as well as principal styli. The sponge, which is therefore dis- 

 tinct from the present species, will probably require a new specific name, 

 since the name Clathria mollis has already been used by Kirkpatrick tor 

 a South African sponge. 



3 Dendy— Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict.. 1896, p. 35. 



