Sponges from South Australia. 117 



presence of tlie sarcode in the midst of tlie spiculo-fibrous 

 skeleton. Size of globular form 1| in. in diameter ; that of 

 the elongated one 3 in. high by 4^ X 2| horizontally. 



Depth 19 and 18 fath. respectively. 



Ohs. Somewhat different as these two forms are they 

 nevertheless appear to me to belong to the same species ; 

 hence they have been described together under the same 

 designation. 



1 7 . Suherites Jlahella tus . 



Massive, thick, flabellate, stipitate, lobate on the surface ; 

 stem thick. Consistence soft, resilient. Colour when fresh 

 " dull orange-brown," now dull ochre-yellow. Surface 

 smooth, presenting every degree of lobulation from simple 

 elevation to proliferous processes. Vents rather large, sur- 

 rounded by a thin projecting margin, scattered irregularly 

 over the surface and on the prominent ends of the proliferous 

 growths. Spicules of one form only, viz. pin-like, prevailing 

 form of head subglobular, varying to simple acuate ; shaft 

 fusiform, line-pointed, about 190 by 3-6000ths in. Structure 

 internally from without inwards, consisting of a thin dermal 

 covering, followed by spiculo-fibrous skeletal reticulation 

 imbedded in sarcode, which becomes .brown^ stiff, and gluey 

 when dry. Size 5^ in. high by 5^ x 2| in. horizontally. 



Depth 7 fath. 



18. buherites biceps. 



Massive, stipitate, terminating above irregularly in pointed 

 lobes ; stem thick. Consistence firm. Colour when fresh 

 " crimson," now pinkish grey. Surface smooth, minutely 

 reticulated. Vents scattered over the surface, chiefly towards 

 the lower part. Spicule of one form only, viz. acerate, 

 slightly fusiform, globularly inflated at each extremity (hence 

 the designation), 185 by l^-6000th in. Structure from with- 

 out inwards, consisting of a thin reticulated dermis followed 

 by a subcompact tissue imbedding the spicules of the species 

 in a fibro-reticulated skeletal mass traversed by the excretory 

 canals which end at the vents mentioned. Size 3 in. high by 

 2^ horizontally. 



Depth 19 fath. 



Ohs. This form of skeletal spicule is not uncommon in 

 combination with flesh-spicules (anchorates and tricurvates 

 &c.) ; and with sparsely-spined ends occurs in Suherites Jistu- 

 latus, Carter, from South Australia ('Annals,' 1880, vol. vi, 

 p. 53, pi. V. fig. 22). The pin-like inflation at each end of 



