Sponges from South Australia, 373 



structure. Pores not seen. Vents numerous, scattered over 

 the surface irregularly throughout the branch. Skeletal sup- 

 port consisting of densely reticulated, stiff, short-jointed fibre 

 of two kinds, viz. sand-cored or main, whose branches end in 

 the conuli on the surface, and transparent or lateral, inter- 

 uniting the sand-cored filaments, the latter diminishing in 

 size with the increase of the reticulation. Largest speci- 

 men, which consists of a group of twelve stalks of different 

 lengths, varying from 2| to 28 in. in length and under 

 ^ in. in diameter, all growing up out of the same expanded 

 base. 



Loc. Port Western. 



Ohs. This species in form is very like that from the West 

 Indies, which I have described under the name of "Apli/sina 

 longissima " (' Annals,' 1882, vol. ix. p. 271), whose structure 

 and cliaracters were so ill-defined, that at the time I was 

 doubtful whether to call it an Aplysina or " Hircinia^'' so 

 it is just possible that the two are the same. The soft fibro- 

 reticulated dermal structure which characterizes most sponges 

 of this kind in Mr. Wilson's collection is absent in Hircima 

 flagelliformis^ in which, instead of being thick and opaque when 

 dry, it is thin, transparent, and homogeneous. 



Hirctnia {Spongelia) rectilinea^ Hyatt. 

 Hireinia (Sponr/elia) rectilinea, Hyatt, Revision of N. Americau Pori- 

 fei'8e, p. 537, pi. xvii. no. 13. 



Vase-shaped, cylindrical, stipitate, rather everted at the 

 brim, externally nodose and lumpy, internally even ; stem 

 smooth, rather compressed. Colour sponge-brown. Surface 

 minutely conulated both externally and internally ; conuli 

 projecting through a soft, fleshy, fibro-reticulated, dermal 

 structure, the interstices of which are occupied by the pore-areas, 

 which are chiefly on the outside of the specimen. Vents cir- 

 cular, plentifully scattered over the inside, increasing in size 

 towards the bottom of the cup, where there are two very large 

 ones. Skeletal fibres sand -cored and transparent, the former 

 main or primary, and the latter interuniting or secondary, 

 producing together a reticulated structure which, on the out- 

 side of the vase, grows up into large, irregularly nodose or 

 lumpy excrescences without any distinct form or arrangement, 

 but on the inner side presents an even surface. Size of speci- 

 men : — Body 5 in. high by 3 in. in diameter ; cup-like exca- 

 vation about 2 in. deep and 4 in. in diameter across the 

 brim. 



Loc. Port Western. 



Ohs. This is so very like the form and description of Hyatt's 

 Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 5. Vol. xviii. 26 



