BY R. VON LENDENFELD, PH.D. 1133 



rare. The dermal Acerates are of two kinds ; very slender 

 linear spicules and larger but also slender and very long spindle- 

 shaped spicules. The latter are set at nearly right angles to the 

 surface of the Sponge and extremly dense, they cause the hairy 

 appearance of our Sponge. They are sharply pointed at either 

 end and immersed about g-J of their length in the body. They 

 measure 2 — 3*5 mm. by 3-035 mm. The shorter ones are 

 common, those measuring over 3 mm. in length found only 

 exceptionally. The linear acerates measure 1 mm. x 0006 mm. 

 Locality : East Coast of Australia, Port Jackson. Von 

 Lendenfeld. 



46. SPECIES. LEUCANDRA VAGINATA. Nov. spec. 



Solitary cylindrical Sponges with hairy inner, but nearly 

 smooth outer surface if compared to the nearly related L. aspera. 

 Our Sponge has the shape of an irregular cone or spindle, or 

 may even be ovate. The Osculum is always situated terminally 

 on the narrow end of the cone. Leucandra vaginata attains a 

 height of 30— 40 mm. and a diameter 12 — 20 mm. The body 

 wall is thick, particularly in the short and irregular specimens. 

 The Gastral cavity measuring only l-^ oi the diameter of the 

 Sponge. The Osculum sometimes is surrounded by a frill. The 

 canal system is rather complicated. The inhalent pores lead into 

 a reticulation of tangental canals below the surface, all of which 

 possess a circular transverse section and a diameter of 0-2 mm. 

 The meshes of this reticulation are wide, so that no lacunes, 

 which might be considered as subdermal cavities are formed. 

 Towards the Gastral wall we meet with irregular circular canals 

 running tangentally, but not regularly longitudinally. I am 

 doubtful as to whether these form a reticulation, I think not. 

 If anastamoses are present they are very rare. From these 

 canals numerous small radial tubes only 0*2 mm. in diameter 

 lead into the Gastral cavity. The terminations of these, the 

 pores in the Gastral wall, are of the same dimensions as the 

 canals to which they belong, and very close to one anoth er. 



Spicules.. The skeleton consists of similar elements as that of 

 the foregoing species. 



