SPOJSGIIDA. Oil 



finely hispid surface and tho low irregularly lobato form, together 

 with tho spicular characters, they agree closely with the Australian 

 specimen, but tho average diameter of tho lobes is somewhat Less 

 (about 10 millim.). 



Hah. Providence Peef, Mascareno Islands, 24 fms. 



Distribution. Port Darwin. 



33. Esperia gelatinosa. (Plate LIV. figs./-/"".) 



Low incrusting masses, frequently involving foreign bodies, 

 occasionally rising into slender lobes. Surface in spirit undulating, 

 glabrous. Consistence tough, elastic, firm. Colour pale greenish 

 grey or pinkish brown ; general appearance gelatinous, semi-trans- 

 parent. 



Main skeleton rather confused in the incrusting specimens ; the 

 vertical lines near the surface being short, broad, loose, and 

 closely approximated ; in thicker specimens the ordinary Esperian 

 distinct spiculo-fibres appear at some distance below the surface ; 

 primaries crossed by more or less numerous detached skcleton- 

 spicules. Dermal skeleton composed of confusedly intercrossing 

 spicules not arranged into spiculo-fibrous reticulation. Sarcode very 

 pale yellow, transparent. 



Spicules: — (1) Skeleton subspinulate ; head oval, slightly but 

 distinctly demarcated from shaft, about two thirds the maximum 

 diameter of the latter ; shaft tapering rather abruptly to sharp 

 point ; size of spicule *5 by *016 millim. (2) Large inequianchorate ; 

 large end moderately broad, about half the total length of the spicule, 

 tubercle long, lower angles of outer palms slightly rounded ; small 

 end subtriangular, rather small, pointed below, tubercle small, 

 tongue-shaped, a small reverted margin extending as far as the 

 tubercle in the middle ; size of spicule -00 by '0032 millim. (3) Small 

 I inequianchorate, large end about three fifths the total length of 

 the spicule; shaft and arms well but gradually curved, tubercle 

 short ; lesser end very small, not prolonged below into a point; length 

 of spicule -019 millim. (4) Bihamate, contort, slender, well curved, 

 sharp-pointed ; size -057 by -002 millim. (5) Trichites in oblong 

 ompact bundles about '02 millim. loug and "0003 to *0075 millim. 



diameter ; spicules approximately straight. Extremely abundant. 



Hub. Providence Keef and Providence Island, Mascarene group, 

 19-24 fms. ; bottom, sand or dead coral. 



The longest lobes are 20-30 millim. long and 3-6 millim. in 

 ameter. In habit, spiculation, and arrangement of skeleton it 

 .uch resembles E. Icevis, Carter (Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1882, ix. p. 291, 

 il. xi. fig. 16), from Venezuela, and E. pellucida, mihi (Part I., p. 437, 

 >f this Report) ; but the small inequianchorate here has not the 

 ;erminal point described by Carter, and the trichites are much 

 smaller ("02 millim. instead of "067 millim. long) ; from E. pellucida 

 t differs in the small, short, quadrangular trichite-bundles, in the 

 mailer size of the anchorates, &c. The species is quite abundant, 

 hough no large specimens were found. 



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