dredged up from the Gulf of Manaar. 37 



Rhaphidonemata. 



The Chalinida are only represented by a mere amorphous 

 fragment not more than an inch in diameter, in which the 

 iibre is resilient as usual, and charged with small acerate 

 spicules only. 



Desmacidon Jeffrey sii } Bk. 



This species, described by Dr. Bowerbank, under the name 

 above given, in his Mon. Brit. Spong. (vol. ii. p. 347, and 

 figured in vol. iii. pi. lxii.), also by the Rev. A. M. Norman 

 under the generic name of Oceanapia (Brit. Assoc. Report, 

 1868, p. 334), is, with a slightly varied form, found in the 

 Gulf of Manaar, where the body portions (for there are two 

 specimens) are not more than an inch in diameter respectively, 

 although the tubular extensions are much branched and up- 

 wards of 6 inches in length, covered with an overgrowth of 

 other organisms, together with sea-bottom detritus which 

 nearly obscures the surface both of body and tubes. Inter- 

 nally, however, it is essentially the same as Desmacidon 

 Jeffreysu, but with the exception that it contains no flesh- 

 spicules — that is, minute bihamates (jibulce), — thus resembling 

 that from the south coast of Australia, where it also occurs, 

 but more under the British form, viz. turnip-like ; while the 

 British form does contain the bihamates, as mentioned by Mr. 

 Norman (l. c), and found by myself in the identical specimen 

 figured by Dr. Bowerbank (l. c), although the latter has 

 neither figured nor mentioned them in his description or 

 illustrations (B. S. vol. iii.). 



In classification, I feel inclined to place this sponge among 

 the Cavochalinida, on account of its fibrous structure charged 

 with simple acerate spicules, and its hollow tubular extensions; 

 but it should, I think, be considered the type of a distinct 

 group. 



ECHINONEMATA. 



Dictyocylindrus manaar ensis, n. sp. 

 (PI. IV. fig. l,a-g.) 



Stalk-like, erect, cylindrical, branched dichotomously ; 

 branches round, obtusely pointed (PI. IV. fig. 1). Consis- 

 tence firm. Colour now dark brown. Surface slightly hispid. 

 Structurally consisting of spicules in juxtaposition, arranged 

 in tufts perpendicularly round a condensed axis of a like 

 nature. Spicules of six forms, viz. : — 1, long, smooth, 

 curved, acuate, 45 by l^-1800th (fig. 1, a) ; 2, shorter, 

 smooth, curved, acuate, proportionately stouter, with inflated 



