SPONGIIDA. 481 



space to its description. The complexity of its spiculation and the 

 curious occurrence of the globostellate and of the surface aoerate 

 all combine to render it remarkable. Possibly it may have in the 

 future to be separated from Qeodia s. star. It is noteworthy that, 

 whilo one of the specimens (the larger) exhibits nothing like a vent, 

 the other has a circular opening leading obliquely and deeply into 

 the sponge, lined with a soft wall, and aboul 4 millim. in diameter; 

 its margin is slightly raised at one point. It is possible that it is 

 merely an opening formed by growth over some cylindrical foreign 

 body which has since disappeared; if a vent, its absence in the 

 other specimen is remarkable. Mr. Carter does not mention any 

 vents in his specimens. 



107. Placospongia carinata. 

 Geodia carinata, Bowerbank, P. Z. S. 1874, p. 298, pi. xlvi. figs. 1-5. 



This species differs from P. melobesioides, Gray, the typical species 

 of the genus, in having a spinispirular and a globostellate flesh- 

 spicule, the latter with furcate rays. Taking this difference into 

 consideration, it is impossible any longer to regard the two species 

 as identical. Some fine specimens were most fortunately obtained 

 in spirit. 



Hah. Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 7 fms. ; bottom sand. 



Distribution. Dr. Bowerbank's specimen is said to have been ob- 

 tained in the " South Sea." 



CALCAREA. 



As with the collections made by the 'Alert' on the Patagonian 

 coasts, so with those from the north and north-east of Australia, a 

 very small number of Calcisponges have to be recorded, and no 

 species new to science. Perhaps this is in part to be connected with 

 the fact that but few Alga3 (which so commonly afford a resting-place 

 to these Sponges) occurred among the collections sent to the British 

 Museum. But Hiickel says (' Kalkschwiimme,' i. p. 42(j) of Calcarea, 

 "Aufsandigem oder schlammigem Grunde wachsen nur sehr wenige 

 Arten ; " hence, as the abundant details given by Dr. Coppinger of 

 the nature of the bottom on the coasts more particularly investi- 

 gated by the ' Alert ' show that it is chiefly composed of sand or 

 mud or loose shells, this group of Sponges was likely to be found to 

 be but poorly represented on the actual coast-line of this district ; 

 the coral-reef might be expected to produce more. 



Judging from the collections in the British Museum, from Hackel's 

 Tables of Distribution {op. cit. i. pp. 430-432), and fromDr.Polejaeff's 

 Keport, the south coast of Australia appears to be considerably more 

 productive, fifteen or sixteen species being known from this region. 

 I know of only two species from the western coast of the continent ; 

 but that district has been but imperfectly investigated hitherto, 

 From the east coast Hackel records but six species, Polejaeff adds 

 eight, and the present collection two. None of the species now to 



2i 



