292 Mr. H. J. Carter 



on 



to that of the group '' Trichentrionina " {ih. 1879, vol. iii. 

 p. 293, &c.). 



Groups 2, 3, and 4 of the Ectjonida, viz. Plumohalichon- 

 drina, Microcionma, and Echinoclathrata, I must leave as the j 

 are^ merely observing that ^^ Halichondria seriata^'' Johnston, 

 s= Ophlitospongia (olim Chalina) seriata, Bk., unfortunately 

 does not illustrate the group etymologicaUy, on account of 

 being solid instead of clathrate ; but then it was, as it is now, 

 the only species of the group that had been publicly de- 

 scribed, so that I had no option, but will now endeavour to 

 supply this apparent discrepancy by adding the description of 

 a dried foreign species, equally remarkable for its clathrate 

 character, which is solidly cellular throughout rather than 

 si'rnp??/ solid, and thus resembles the nidamental mass of a 

 whelk or a bee's honeycomb rather than a sponge ; — 



EcMnoclatliria favuSj n. sp. 



Massive, lobed, sessile or contracted towards the base, or 

 divided digitately from this upwards into a bunch of coales- 

 cent cylindrical stems, dichotomously and polychotomously 

 branched, like a digitate Chalina. Consistence now in its 

 dried state soft and resilient. Colour reddish brown or 

 yellowish. Surface even. Structure composed of a thin 

 fibro-reticulate lamina, continuous in itself, but partitionally 

 separating vermicular cavities, which are equally continuous 

 throughout, thus producing a uniformly clathrous mass which, 

 on the surface, presents a honeycomb appearance, in which 

 the cells, which are irregular in outline, are about 3-12ths 

 in. in diameter more or less. Fibre both cored and echinated 

 with proper spicules. Core- or skeletal spicule very thin, 

 subpin-like, smooth, fusiform, constricted towards the head, 

 about 45-6000ths in. long. Echinating spicule smooth, also 

 subpin-like, fusiform, and constricted towards the head, which 

 is less in diameter than the shaft, about 15 by l|-600Uths in. 

 in its greatest dimensions. Size of specimens variable. 



Hah. Marine. 



Log. South coast of Australia. 



Ohs. This sponge is so striking in its honeycomb algoid 

 appearance and soft though resilient consistence that it can 

 hardly be mistaken for any other excepting the arenifet-ous 

 variety of the same sponge, which will be described hereafter 

 in the new family which I propose to call " Pseudoechino- 

 nemida." 



There are several specimens of it in the British Museum, 

 mostly under 4 inches in their greatest diameter, of which 

 nos. 554 and 555, each registered 59. 10. 7. 106, may be 



