378 Mr. H. J. Carter on Specimens 



rough, composed of lacinulated tnfts projecting through the 

 reticulate structure, which tufts are the ends of the ultimate 

 branches flattened and divided into penicilliform processes ; 

 reticulated structure consisting of sarcode echinated with small 

 spined spicules. Neither the pores nor the vents seen, from 

 the contracted state of the tissues ; but probably the former 

 in sarcode tympanizing the interstices of the dermal reticula- 

 tion, and the latter numerous and small, as is usual in the 

 Echinonemata. Spicules of two kinds, viz. : — 1, skeleton-, 

 acuate, curved, slightly inflated at the large end, gradually 

 sharp-pointed, smooth, about l-40th by 1-loOOth inch in its 

 greatest dimensions (fig. 7, a) ; 2, flesh- or echinating spicule, 

 clavate, without enlarged head, sharp-pointed, spined through- 

 out, spines recurved from the point backwards, about l-24<}th 

 by l-2000tli inch in its greatest dimensions (fig. 7, he). The 

 skeleton-spicules form the axial structm'e, appearing setaceously 

 at the ends of the penicilliform processes ; while the flesh-spi- 

 cules echinate the meshes of the reticular sarcode most profusely. 

 Size of branches, of which there are two that appear to have 

 grown with others from the same point on some hard object, 

 2 2 inches high by H i^ch broad in the expanded head. 



Hob. Marine. 



Log. Bass's Straits. 



Ohs. The characteristic feature of this species is its dermal 

 reticulation, in which the meshes are densely charged with 

 the echinating spicules, thus presenting a beautiful and equally 

 characteristic feature of the Ectyonida or first family of the 

 order. The spiculation is like that of Dlctyocylindrus in 

 general, but not the same in particular, while the general form 

 is ditferent from that of all hitherto described species. 



It is on a part of this specimen that the specimen of Hali- 

 sarca bassangustiarum to which I have alluded is attached. 



While the rough lacinulated surface above noticed is com- 

 mon to many of the Echinonemata, there are others which 

 are as equally and uniformly smooth, like that of the following 

 species : — 



Echinonema typicum, n. sp. 



Shrubby, cauliculate, more or less compressed bunch -like 

 or clustral, consisting of a great number of digital, more or 

 less branched stalks spreading upwards from a contracted 

 sessile base ; more or less covered throughout by a whitish 

 incrustation ; branches cylindrical, round, or slightly, com- 

 pressed, more or less subdivided, terminating in obtuse round 

 ends. Consistence firm, resilient. Colour white, or brown 

 when the incrustration has been rubbed off. Surface even, 



