456 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 



numerous, low, sharp, those of distal half recurvate towards base ; 

 size of spicule T to *14 by -0079 milliiu. 



Ilah. Port Molle, Queensland, from coral-reef. 



Both in its external form and in the structure of its fibre this 

 species much resembles E. bilamellatum ; the form, however, is less 

 definite here, and the presence of the fiue acuate effectually distin- 

 guishes this species. Its turbinate form separates it from E.pylcei and 

 laciniatum, and its rough outer and inner surface from E. vasvpli- 

 catum, although it agrees with these three in possessing the fine 

 acuate spicule. 



The dry specimen which represents it is not completely tur- 

 binate, but forms about three fifths of an open cup, not stipitate, at 

 any rate in its present condition. There is little doubt that when 

 fully grown it would be turbinate, as E. bilamellatum shows traces 

 of au originally non-cup-shaped condition (and cf. varieties of 

 Phdcellia vent Hainan). The height is 50 millim. (2 inches), the 

 extreme breadth of the cup 70 millim. (2J inches). 



85. Echiiiodictyum glomeratum. (Plate XL. fig. A ; 

 Plate XLII. fig. p.) 



Erect, stipitate; base spreading; stem short, branching fre- 

 quently at acute angles and in an arborescent manner. Branches 

 angular, more or less flattened, showing strong tendency to unite by 

 their edges, forming a dense head, from which the rounded ends of 

 the branches project to a short distance ; maximum diameter, of 

 primary branches 7 to 10 millim., of terminal twigs 3 to 6 millim. 

 Surface (in present dry state) even, but honeycombed by the spaces 

 between the superficial skeleton-fibres ; these bear small inconspi- 

 cuous sharp points, -25 to TO millim. high, at intervals of about 

 T5 millim. Vents ? Texture in dry state harsh to touch, hard, 

 incompressible, and almost inflexible ; colour probably dull purple 

 in natural state. 



Main skeleton composed of compact spiculo-fibre ; no horny matter 

 apparent outside the spicules ; spicules about 10-to 12-serial ; arrange- 

 ment non-rectangular, the meshes rounded, and the primary and 

 secondary fibres not traceable as distinct fibres beyond one or two 

 consecutive junction-nodes ; meshes - 2S to - 5 millim. in greatest 

 width ; both primary and secondary fibres echinated at right angles 

 by an abundance of the echinating spicule. Dermal skeleton com- 

 posed of fibre similar in structure to that of skeletou, but ranging 

 from 5 to about 20 spicules broad ; meshes rounded, from '25 to 

 about *7 millim. in width, echinated in same way as the primaries; 

 the fibre composing the projecting vertical lines is similar in con- 

 stitution to that of the main skeleton, Sarcode pale yellow, trans- 

 parent or purplish brown, subopaque. 



Spicules: — (1) Long setaceous acerate, sparse, echinating; 

 smooth, tapering to sharp points ; size about 2 - by '0127 millim. 

 (2) Skeleton acerate smooth, slightly but rather suddenly bent in 

 the middle, tapering to sharp points from about two diameters from 



