248 



Genus Bubaris (Gray) 



Bubaris reptans, sp. n. 



Plate v., Fig. 14. Plate VI., Fig. i5a-c. 



Sponge encrusting, growing in the form of narrow sharp- 

 edged ligulate bands averaging about i mm. in diameter, but 

 wider at the origin of branches ; the bands branching and 

 occasionally anastomosing so as to form an incomplete reticulate 

 pattern (on the surface of Halichondria pachastrelloides, Top- 

 sent). 



Here and there minute oscular (?) papillae about .25 mm. 

 high, only visible in the specimen preserved in formalin. 



Colour, in spirit, greenish ; in formalin, pale yellow with 

 purple streaks. 



Skeleton composed of a basilar layer of styles partly tan- 

 gential, partly forming root-like fascicles proceeding obliquely 

 downwards and outwards into the Halicliondria, and of a dense 

 superficial layer of vertically arranged tyles. 



Spicules. — Style, 530 m in length by 15 m in breadth at the 

 centre, and 9 n in breadth at the base, fusiform, straight or 

 slightly curved near the base. 



Tyle, 16 X 6 m, decidedly curved near the head ; head sub- 

 spherical, slightly knobbed at summit, 6.5 /« in diameter, 

 neck 5 h. 



Microscleres, o. 



Locality E. — Cone Point Natal, 34 fms. ; bottom, broken 

 shells. 



The new species is placed, not without hesitation, in the 

 genus Bubaris, under which is grouped a somewhat hetero- 

 geneous collection of species. 



There are no diactinal megascleres in the present species, 

 which agrees in this respect with B. coiistclhihi, Topsent, in 

 which last, however, oxyasters replace the typical basilar diac- 

 tinal megascleres. 



The small papillae on the surface are probably oscular, since 

 it is possible to trace canals passing down in a radiate manner 

 into the body of the sponge, the canals being mapped out by 

 cells containing purple granules. 



Genus Clatbria (Schmidt). 



Clathria typica (Carter). 



1881. Ecliittoncma fvpiciiiii. Carter [4, p. 378J. 

 1881. Echiiioiieina niiclioratinii. Carter [4, p. 379]. 

 1896. Clathria typica, Dendy [6, p. 32]. 



One small stalked flabellate specimen of this sponge, attached 

 to a piece of rock, occurs in this collection. The height is 



