446 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 



branches, and the entire surface of smaller branches uneven and 

 covered with small deep vents, about - 5 millim. in diameter and *5 to 

 1 millim. apart. Texture of sponge in dry state and in spirit firm, 

 the peripheral portions and the reticulation generally elastic, some- 

 what compressible and flexible, like cork; the main stems in dry- 

 state hard, woody ; reticulation and lesser branches rather brittle. 

 Surface between pits composed of an incrustation, which is whitish 

 when dry, dull umber to pinkish in spirit ; colour of subjacent tissue 

 pale brown in dry state, pinkish and subtransparent in spirit. 



Main skeleton irregular, consisting of a close reticulation of 

 primary and secondary fibres, which are curved, and form rounded 

 meshes from -18 to -25 millim. wide ; primaries "044 to *07 millim., 

 secondaries about '035 millim. in diameter. Dermal skeleton 

 formed of similar, rather narrower meshes ; fibres -053 to "07 millim. 

 in diameter. 



Spicules: — (1) Smooth acuate, tapering gradually to sharp points 

 and also to base, which is slightly narrower than middle of shaft ; 

 size *2 by '015 millim. : in axis of fibres and projecting from ends of 

 primaries. (2) Subspinulate acuate, slightly curved, tapering gra- 

 dually to sharp point ; head formed by a slight constriction just above 

 base, which is uiicrospined ; size "34 by -015 millim. : in axis of 

 and projecting from ends of primary fibres. (3) Smooth, straight, 

 slender spinulate, with oval head slightly stouter than shaft, taper* 

 ing gradually to sharp point; size -25 by "005 millim. to '15 by 

 •0063 millim. : in the sarcode, especially at the surface (probably 

 young forms of Xo. 2). (4) Spined acuate, with slight constriction 

 just above base, spined all over with small, sharp, straight spines ; 

 size -011 by '0063 : scattered, echinating the different fibres at 

 right or acute angles. (5) Equianchorate, navicular, with slender 

 shaft and slightly elongate palms with truncate proximal margins, 

 as seen from in front ; "017 millim. long : abundant in sarcode. 



Hah. Albany Island, north coast of Australia, 3 to 8 fms. 

 bottom sand and mud. 



A very fine dry specimen, 455 millim. (18| inches) by 450 

 millim. (18 inches) in extreme height and diameter respectively, 

 together with a portion in spirit of what must have been also a large 

 specimen, represent this species. The remarkable external charac- 

 ters are not accompanied by any thing striking in the spiculation ; 

 indeed this is remarkable, if for any thing, for its simplicity, the 

 equianchorate being the only flesh-spicule present. I have great 

 pleasure in associating with what is perhaps the finest new sponge 

 of this collection, and the finest known species of its genus, the 

 name of the indefatigable and successful collector who obtained it. 



77. Clathria reinwardti, var. subcylindrica. 

 Clathria reinwardti, Vosm., Xvfes Hoy. Mus. Netherl. ii. p. 152. 



I have little doubt of the identity with Yosmaer's species of ;| 

 sponge which occurs abundantly in Torres Straits. The genera 

 external resemblance to Axinella cannabina is very striking and thi 



