DESOKIPTIONS 



OF 



SOUTH AFRICAN SPON(}ES 



PART III. 



E. KIEKPATRICK, F.Z.S. 



BRITISH MUSEU5I (NATURAL HISTORY). 



In the present paper the Monaxonida and Keratosa, obtained 

 by Dr. |. D. F. Gilchrist from Cape Colony and Natal, are 

 described. The collection comprises 6i specimens, represent- 

 ing 33 species and 3 varieties, of which 19 species and all the 

 varieties are new ; of the genera, one is new to science. 

 Among the points of special interest are the following : (i) the 

 occurrence of a large and massive new species of Placospougia 

 characterised by a great development of the internal skeletal 

 partitions ; (2) a new stalked species of Latnniculia near L. 

 (Podospoiigia) lovenil Bocage ; (3) a new Spirastrellid genus 

 near Spinistrella but with an ectosomal crust of euasters in 

 place of spirasters. 



With regard to geographical distribution, 3 species {Tragosia 

 iiifiiiidibulifonnis (J) ; Sollasella hysfrix Topsent ; HaUchondna 

 pacluistrelloidcs Topsent) are common to the North Atlantic 

 and Natal. Two species {Latnincidia lovenii Bocage, and 

 Histoderma appeiidiciilatmii, Carter) from the North Atlantic 

 very nearly resemble the Natal species Latntncidia natalensis 

 sp. n., and Histodenna nattdensc sp. n., respectively. Haiiia- 

 caiitlia esperioidcs R. and D. is common to Cape Colony and 

 Rio de la Plata. Three species (Cluthria typicn, Carter ; 

 Hirciiiia arensa, Lendenfeld ; and Hiiriiiia arhiiscida, Lenden- 

 feld) are common to Australia and South Africa. From these 

 few data no conclusions can be drawn, though it may be 

 mentioned that Carter has drawn attention to resemblances 



B 161. -g 



