358 Mr. R. Kirkpatrick on 



Psammope.mma purpureum (Carter). 



1880. Aplysina purpurea, Carter (3, p. 36). 



1881. Aplysina purpurea, Carter (4, p. 103, pi. ix. fig8. 1,2). 

 1885. Pseudoceratina durissima, Carter (5, p. 204). 



1885. Holopsamma fuliyinosa, Carter (5, p. 213). 



1889. Aplysina purpurea, Dendy (7, p. 97). 



1889. Psammopemma fuliginosum, Lendenfeld (13, p. 63S). 



The sponge, which forms a dark purple incrustation on 

 Ilalimeda, has a few cactiform protuberances on its surface 

 and fragments of the coralline imbedded in its substance. 

 The ground-substance contains fine fibrillar 2 /a in thickness. 



After examining the type specimens of Pseudoceratina 

 durissima, Carter, and H. fuliginosa, I agree with Lenden- 

 feld in considering these species as synonyms of A. purpurea ; 

 but I can see no reason for rejecting the oldest species name 

 purpureum. 



Locality. Tutanga, 50 fath. 



Distribution. Port Phillip, Victoria ; Funafuti Atoll ; Gulf 

 of Manaar. 



Stehspongus cavernosus (Pallas), var. piriformis, 

 Lendenfeld. 



1889. Stehspongus cavernosus, var. pyriformis, Lendenfeld (13, p. 509). 



A small specimen, 70x40 millim. in area by 20 millim. in 

 thickness, consisting only of the hard brown skeleton of 

 flattened- pyriform shape. 



The type specimen of the variety is in the British Museum 

 (registered, year 1838. 4. 16. 10), the specimen having been 

 purchased from a dealer, and it is important to note that the 

 locality is unknown, and probably not " West Indies," as 

 recorded by Lendenfeld. In fact, the type specimen may 

 have come from the Pacific, since various specimens presented 

 by Sir E. Home, who brought home collections from the 

 Pacific, are registered on the same page. It is not unlikely 

 that the dealer obtained his specimen from some fellow- 

 voyager of Sir E. Home. 



On the under surface of both specimens an oval patch of 

 pale brown dermal membrane incrusted with foreign bodies 

 still persists, and probably coincides with the area of attach- 

 ment of the sponge. 



Locality. Funafuti Atoll. 



POLYFIBROSPONGIA, Bowerbank (1, p. 459). 



1889. Hircinia, subgenus Pohjfibrospongia, Lendenfeld (13, p. 587). 



1884. Stehspongus, Ridley (19, p. 383). 



Stelosponginar with a loose skeleton-net, the trabecular of 

 which are formed of fascicles of parallel slender fibres fre- 

 quently anastomosing. 



