SPONGES. HALLMAN N 



245 



C dura differs from the species of group (iv.) in the strong 

 spiculation of its fibres (both main and connecting) and in its 

 dermal skeleton of acanthostyles ; except that its fibres are 

 echinated, it approaches rather closely to Pseudoclathria com- 

 pressa, Carter.! 



WiLSONELLA CONECTENS, Sp. nov. 



(Plate xxxii., fig. 2, and fig. 50.) 



Sponge a sessile amorphous reticular tuass of 

 moderately thin mostly erect lamellce. Oscula absent (?). 

 No distinct dermal memhrane. Skeleton an irregular 

 reticulation of thin fibres with a loose meagre core of 

 smooth slender styli ; in the connecting fibres the spicules 

 are usually uniserially arranged. Accessory acan- 

 thostyles rare. Spicides similar to the intrafibral styli, 

 are scattered inter stitially in moderate abundance. 

 Megascleres : — (t.) Smooth sometimes tornotely-poit^ted 

 styli or subtylostyli, up to 240 \i in length and at most 

 4 p in diameter ; (ii.) acanthostyles, obscurely spined or 

 rugged, ^o x 4.5 p. Microscleres : — (f.) IsochelcF 

 palmatce, 8 fi long: {ii.) rare toxa, of moderate si-::c, %vith 

 arms sometimes inclined at right angles. 



Two specimens were obtained, both of which are preserved 

 "in a dry state. The sponge is a low-spreading reticulate sub- 

 cellular mass of irregular rumpled lamellae which as a rule are 

 disposed more or less vertically. An idea of the general ex- 

 ternal appearance of the sponge is best obtained from the 

 figure (PI. xxxii., fig. 2). The lamella^ have an uneven surface 

 and are frequently irregularly fenestrate ; they average 2 to 

 3 mm. in thickness. The larger specimen measures 120 mm. 

 in length, 80 mm. in breadth, and 60 mm. in height. The 

 specimens afford no certain evidence of their mode of attach- 

 ment ; but, judging from adhering fragments, it is highly 

 probable that they grew upon branching calcareous bryozoans 

 to which they were attached at many points. The colour in 

 life was bright orange yellow ; it is now light brown. The 

 texture is finely fibrous and compact. As regards consistency, 

 the sponge is, in its present state, moderately tough, com- 

 pressible and resilient. 



Owing to the damaged state of the surface nothing can be 

 said concerning the arrangement of the spicules in the dermal 

 laver. The main skeleton is an irregular reticulation of thin 

 fibres, the stoutest of which rarely exceed 50 p in diameter. 

 Both main and connecting fibres are cored with slender smooth 

 straight styli, and similar spicules, in considerable number, 



I Carter— Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (5), xviii., 1886, p. 450; Dendy— Proc. Roy. 

 Soc. Vict., ix. (n.s.), 1897, p. 259. 



