276 Mr. H. J. Carter on some West-Indian 



Avith the same species of Janla^ forming a glohidar sessile 

 mass with large crevice-like vents. 



Of course, there is no alliance between these specimens 

 and de F. et M.'s species Terjpios fagaXj which will be de- 

 scribed hereafter. 



Order IV. KHAPHIDONEMATA. 

 Family 2. Chalinida. 



Chalina rubens, Pallas. 



Massive, lobate, sessile, erect or flat, convex, repent, in- 

 crusting, lobes often extended into long processes characterized 

 by large round vents. Texture firm, resilient. Colour dark 

 or light crimson-red, often reddish brown wlien fresh, light 

 brown-grey to white after exposure on the shore. Surface 

 covered with a fine fibro-reticulation interrupted only by the 

 vents. Vents large, round, numerous, elevated at the margin, 

 scattered generally over the mass, or more or less conlined to 

 particular parts, especially in the cylindrical erect forms, 

 Avhere they present a broken linear arrangement on opposite 

 sides of the column. Internally composed of uniformly reti- 

 culated fibrous structure, much coarser but less dense than 

 that of the surface ; traversed by the branches of the excretory 

 canal-system, which terminates at the vents mentioned ; fibre 

 resilient, kerasine, cored with proper spicules. Spicule of one 

 form only, viz. acerate, smooth, slightly curved, fusiform, 

 sharp-pointed, about 50 by f- 6000th inch in its greatest 

 dimensions* (PI. XL fig. 7), more confined to the fibre than 

 to the sarcode. Size of largest specimen about 9 inches high 

 and 5 inches in diameter at the base, with lobes 1 to 2 inches 

 thick. 



Hab. Marine. Growing on hard objects. 



Lac. Nassau. Long Key Island. 



Obs. This sponge has been known for a very long time 

 under the name of Spongia rubens. given to it by Pallas 

 (Elench. Zoophytorum, p. 389. no, 238), = 6'. digitata,J^s[)Qr, 

 tab. 50,= /S'. arborcscensj Lam. (An. s. Vertfeb. vol. ii. p. 374, 

 no. 98), and l&st? = Amphimedon, de F. etM. (p. 78). Vari- 

 able, however, as the form and colour in different specimens 

 may be, the prevailing character of the species, which appears 

 to be very plentiful in the West Indies, growing especially 

 about the branches of Millej>ora alcicornis, niay be traced 



* The measurements will be cliieflj given in 6000tlis of an incli, to 

 accord with the delineations in the Plates. 8ee "Note" at the com- 

 mencement of the " Explanation of the Plates." 



