216 Mr. II. J. Carter on 



branches of the excretory canal-systems. Fibre arenaceous 

 throughout. Size variable. 



Hub. Marine. 



Loc. British coasts generally. 



Obs. The above description chiefly applies to the living or 

 fresh state of the sponge, which, after the specimen has been 

 torn off the rocks and the sarcode washed out by the waves, 

 may be found on the beach in the fragile condition, and this 

 probably led Johnston, who might not have seen it under 

 other circumstances, to give it the above designation. When 

 gathered from the rocks and dried directly it presents the 

 conulated state above mentioned, which renders it, as before 

 stated, very much like Spongelia pallescens under similar 

 circumstances. Inserted for comparison. 



For a short description of the variety in which the conuli 

 are turned into round arenaceous balls, and for which I have 

 proposed the name of " Dysidea granulosa" see ' Annals ' of 

 18b 1 (vol. vii. p. 376). 



2. Dysidea Kirkii, Bk. 



Massive, sessile, more or less contracted towards the base, 

 simple or lobate ; lobes convex, mamilliform, digital, sub- 

 branched or indefinitely varied in their forms. Consistence 

 firm, but easily broken, light. Colour grey externally, generally 

 orange-yellow internally. Surface smooth and even or more 

 or less rough, consisting of the dermal membrane, raised or not 

 into small conuli by the projection of the subjacent arenaceous 

 fibre. Pores in juxtaposition, uniformly continued over the 

 dermal membrane, or interrupted in their continuity by the 

 projections of the subdermal fibre. Vents numerous and 

 large, sitiu ted on the prominent parts, at the ends of the 

 mamilliform lobes, or along the borders or ridges of the 

 crested growths. Structure fibro- reticulate ; fibre arenaceous, 

 tympanized in its interstices by the parenchymal sarcode 

 traversed by the branches of the excretory canal-systems. 

 Size variable. 



llab. Marine. 



Loc. Port Phillip Heads, South Australia. Depth variable. 



Obs. When fresh this sponge, although firm, is easily 

 broken, on account of the minimum of keratine which holds 

 together the arenaceous material of the fibre. 1 have as- 

 sumed that it is the species alluded to by Dr. Bowerbank, 

 because out of a great number of specimens in Mr. Wilson's 

 collection, as well as in the British Museum, ] can find no 

 other meriting the term "Dysidea" and Dr. Bowerbank does 

 not appear to have gone beyond the description of its fibre, 



