Sponges from South Australia. 459 



others, which are sharp-pointed, and all radiating from a 

 common centre ; diameter of the whole 63-6000ths in. : 3, 

 flesh-spicule, bacillar, smooth, cylindrical, curved, often in- 

 flated in the centre, varying in length under 5-6000ths in. 

 No. 1 in its large form belongs to the body-substance, and 

 in its smaller one to the surface. No. 2 is congregated round 

 the circumference immediately under the thin dermal layer; 

 and no. 3 in the surface itself. Size of specimen about \\ in. 

 high by 5| x 3^ in. horizontally. 



Log. Port Western. 



Ohs. The yellow colour at first sight seems to characterize 

 this species ; but the most peculiar feature is the presence ot 

 the trifarcates round the circumference, evidently representing 

 the head of the " zone-spicule " without the shaft; hence 

 there is no zone-spicule of this kind here^ as in the usual forms 

 of Stelletta. I saw neither " forks " nor " anchors," while the 

 intense yellow colour of the excretory canals, where cut across, 

 showed how the pigmental cells may be continued throughout 

 the structure. 



Stellettinoj)sis lutea, n. sp. 



An irregular mass growing over and enclosing fragments of 

 agglomerated sand and shells. Colour golden yellow through- 

 out. Surface smooth^ composed of fibro-reticulated tissue, 

 whose interstices are plentifully pierced with pores, covering 

 subjacent structure, whose irregularities cause it to present a 

 number of small elevations of different sizes. Pores in the 

 interstices mentioned. Vents numerous, large, scattered over 

 the surface generally, chiefly on the larger elevations. Internal 

 structure fibrous, charged with the spicules of the species, 

 largely traversed by the canals of the excretory systems. 

 Spicules of two kinds, viz. skeletal and flesh-spicules : — 1, 

 skeletal, a large, fusiform, curved, sharp-pointed acerate ; 2, 

 flesh-spicule, a minute stellate. No. 1 chiefly constitutes the 

 body-mass as the skeletal spicule, among which the flesh- 

 spicule, no. 2, is plentifully distributed, but so minute that it 

 is not very easily seen except a fragment be mounted iu 

 balsam. Size of specimen about 5 in. high by 4x 4 in. hoii 

 zontally. 



Log. Port Western. 



Stellettinopsts 2^urpurea, n. sp. 



An irregularly-shaped hemispherical mass, truncated by 

 having been cut off from its place of attachment (probably by 



