48 Mr. H. J. Carter on Specimens 



that of Ilalichondria panicea — that is, gradually pointed. 

 Now just the same kind of sponges appear on the Melobesian 

 nodules ; but although the spicule of the colourless or white 

 species is almost identical with that on the Madeira coral, 

 that of the yellow one, instead of being cylindrical and 

 sausage-shaped, is acerate and sharp-pointed ; while there is 

 a third species about the Melobesian nodules, which is dark 

 brown, that has a cylindrical obtusely-ended spicule. Under 

 these circumstances all that I can do is briefly to describe 

 them respectively by the terms yellow, white, and dark 

 brown, provisionally — that is, until the species to which they 

 respectively belong shall have been satisfactorily defined. 



Reniera, yellow. (PL V. fig. 17.) 



Massive, lobate. Consistence firm. Colour ochre-yellow. 

 Surface even. Spicule of one form only, viz. smooth, acerate, 

 fusiform, curved, abruptly sharp-pointed, 17 by 1^-1 800th 

 (PI. V. fig. 17). Colour variable — some specimens being- 

 greyish yellow, and others almost white. Size of largest 

 specimen about 2| inches in its longest diameter. 



Reniera, white. (PL V. fig. 16.) 



Massive, lobate, rising into short tubular processes. 

 Consistence firm. Colour white. Surface even. Spicule 

 of one form only, viz. smooth, acerate, fusiform, curved, 

 gradually pointed, 60 by 2|-1800ths (PL V. fig. 16). Size 

 of largest specimen about 3 inches in diameter. 



Reniera, dark brown. (PL V. fig. 18.) 



Amorphous, growing in small portions here and there in 

 the depressions of the Melobesian nodules. Consistence firm. 

 Colour dark brown. Spicule of one form only, viz. smooth, 

 cylindrical, curved, rounded at the extremities, 23 by l-1800th 

 (PL V. fig. 18). Size of largest specimen about an inch in 

 horizontal diameter. 



Reniera jibulif era, Sdt. 



This sponge, which seems to be world-wide in its distri- 

 bution, was represented by a small growth, about 1-1 6th inch 

 in horizontal diameter, which was identified at the time, but 

 overlooked afterwards, so that there is no slide or mounted 

 specimen of it. 



Ilalichondria albescens, Johnston. 



Here and there on the nodules. 



