268 "ENDEAVOUK" SCIENTIFIC EESULTS. 



the fibres ; the number of spicules composing such a tuft is, 

 however, frequently greater than that in a cross-section of the 

 fibre. 



The form and size of the spicules have been given in the 

 diagnosis. 



Loc. — Coast of South Australia, fifteen miles south of St. 

 Francis Island, 30 fms. ("Endeavour"). 



Ophlitaspongia axixei.loides (?), I^ctidy. 

 (Plate xxxvi., fig. 3, and fig. 58.) 



1896. Ophlitaspongia axinelloides, Dendy, Proc. Roy. Soc. 

 Vict., viii. (n.s.), 1896, p. 39. 



Sponge erect, lobose, stipitate ; the lobes compressed. 

 Oscida covered by a membrane. Surface even, with a 

 minutely reticulate appearance. Main skeleton composed 

 of moderately stout horny fibres forming an irregular to 

 suhrectangular reticulation iviih meshes of greatly vary- 

 ing size, except superficially, where they are uniformly 

 smaller. Main fibres provided with a meagre core of 

 loosely arranged (priticipal) spicules, some of which are 

 disposed echinatingly ; connecting fibres get^erally with 

 one or a few spicules uniserially arranged. Superficial 

 skeleton consisting of closely arranged, outwardly pro- 

 jecting tufts of principal spicules. Auxiliary spicules 

 {styli) are scattered inlerstitially in moderate numbers, 

 together with less numerous principal spicules, and are 

 rather abundant in the oscidar membranes where they 

 arc arranged radiately. Megascleres : — {i.) The principal 

 spicules are normally styli, straight, subcorneal to 

 slightly fusiform, but an appreciable proportion {say i 

 in 20) are secondarily diactinal (oxea) ; their length ranges 

 from about 80 to 7J5 p, ivhilst their maximum diameter 

 {which is rarely attained by individuals longer than 120 p) 

 is II n; (u.) auxiliary styli, straight, cylindrical, rapidly 

 tapering to a sharp point, 115 to 200 ji in length, and 

 zvith a maximum diameter of 5 p. 



A single specimen, in the collection of the Australian 

 Museum, agrees so well, on the whole, with O. axinelloides, 

 as to render it highly probable that its points of difference 

 from the specimen described by Dendy are purely individual ; 

 accordingly I have refrained from bestowing upon it a 

 distinctive name. The specimen (PI. xxxvi., fig. 3), which 

 measures 115 mm. in height, is incomplete, representing ap- 

 parently about one-half of the original, and consists of a single 



