618 COLLECTIONS FROM THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN. 



approximately cylindrical stems, 50 by 13 and 80 by 20 millim. re- 

 spectively in greatest height and thickness, arising close together 

 from a common rocky base. The lower end of the larger one is 

 almost smooth for a distance of about 8 millim. ; the remainder, as 

 well as the whole of the smaller stem, is beset with small, slender, 

 wedge-shaped or pyramidal eminences, sometimes forked, 2-3 millim. 

 high, about 2 millim. in diameter at their bases and 2-4 millim. 

 apart at their summits ; the general surface between these processes 

 is honeycombed with circular openings, *5 to 1*0 millim. in diameter 

 and -25 to 1*0 millim. apart. Consistence rigid, slightly compres- 

 sible, tough. Colour very pale buff. 



Skeleton typically jLvinella-like ; fibre 3 or 4 spicules broad ; 

 spicules united by dense, very pale yellow horny fibre ; axial 

 meshes close, # 18 to '3 millim. across, the reticulation extending to 

 exterior of sponge. Sarcode pale yellow, subtransparent. Spicules 

 smooth acuate, curved more or less boldly at from one third to 

 one half of the distance from the base ; base well rounded ; spicules 

 tapering to sharp points from about their middle ; size *35 by *019 

 millim. In Lamarck's specimen the surface-tufts are smaller and 

 only 1-2 millim. apart, the sponge is more flattened than here, and 

 the spicules are slightly smaller, viz. "31 by -018 millim. 



Hob. Darros Island, Amirante group, 22 fms. 



Distribution. King Island, Australia {Lamarck). 



41. Axinella proliferans. (Plate LIII. figs. E, E' ; 

 Plate LIV. fig. c.) 



Erect, with short flattened stem, expanding into flabellate fronds, 

 which towards their ends proliferate into secondary flabellate frondlets 

 which assume a course parallel to that of the main frond ; as the 

 latter is frequently plicate at its free margin, the aspect on looking 

 down at a large specimen from above is that of a number of irregular 

 funnel-shaped cells, bounded by lamellar walls, roughened by very 

 numerous slashed ascending ridges. Surface of frond beset, at in- 

 tervals of about 4 millim., with sharp ridges 3-4 milb'm. high (5 

 or 6 millim. near upper margin) ; the ridges notched at intervals of 

 about 3 millim. by ascending teeth, 1-3 millim. high, or altogether 

 replaced by longitudinal series of flattened, notched teeth. 



Vents in spirit- specimen formed by circular openings, 1-2 millim. 

 wide, leading obliquely downwards, scattered between the bases of 

 the laciniate surface-tufts and ridges of the sponges, chiefly near 

 the free margins of the latter. Texture in dry state tough, sub- 

 elastic ; of stem and midribs firm, woody, of margins of fronds and 

 ridges flexible ; in spirit, all parts relatively more pliable. Colour 

 in dry state pale yellow-brown to rufous-brown, in spirit pale salmon- 

 colour. 



Cortical skeleton appearing on margins of surface-tufts and in some 

 places on face of frond as tufts composed of a few of spicule no. 1, 

 connected by their bases ; in main stem consisting of confused linear 



