236 



THE NATURALIST IN AUSTRALIA. 



The sponge figured in juxtaposition to the type last described hails from the 

 hotter and more remote waters of Torres Straits, and is remarkable as being an almost 

 unique variety of the so-called " Neptune's Goblet " or " Neptune's Cup " sponge, Poterion 

 patera. In its normal form, this sponge takes the shape of a huge cup or goblet, 

 with a supporting stalk, and, as a whole, is commonly three or four feet in height 

 and a couple of feet in diameter. In this instance, the sponge possesses no basal 

 stalk, and in place of a deep, cup-shaped body, is spread flat out like a tray or 

 salver of over three feet in diameter, having its margin slightly turned up, after the 

 manner of an ordinary tray rim. From the centre of this basal tray, two other lesser, 

 irregular cup-like developments of the sponge mass are raised one above the other 

 to the height of little over one foot. Mounted flat, this sponge formerly did duty in 

 the author's collection as an appropriate show-table for a choice assortment of Torres 

 Straits shells and is figured under these conditions on Plate XLII. of his volume on 

 the " Great Barrier Reef." This fine specimen has likewise fallen a victim to the 



insatiable appetite of the Sponge and Coral Galleries of the 

 British Museum, where it is now on view. 



The companion pictures in general contour and design, 

 represented by Plates XLI. and XLII., are included in this 





 ***m^F 



W. Safillf-Kent, Photo. 

 A VERTICILLATE STALKED SPONGE, Canlospotiffin rertieillattt, /S'.-JT. 



ONE-EIGHTH NATURAL SIZE, p. 235. 



B NEPTUNE'S CUP SPONGE, Poterion patera tar. ONE-TENTH NATURAL SIZE. 



