New System of Clialininee. 331 



3. Fam, HeterorrJiaphidcB. Ohne Gemmulae mit difFerenten Fleisch- 



nadeln oliue Anker, 



4. Fam. Desmacidonidce *, Ohne Gremmulae, Fleisclinadeln, Anker. 



Familia Homorrhaphidce. 



1. Subf. Renierince. Nadeln niclit voUstandig von Spongin um- 



schlossen. 



2. Subf. ChalininfB. Das Skelet besteht aus einem Sponginfasernetz 



mit eingelagerten Nadeln." 



In this classification tlie Axinellidge appear to be altogether 

 left out of account. Yet, in spite of this omission, it bears a 

 very striking resemblance to that published by Mr. E-idley 

 and myself, as given above. In fact Dr. von Lendenfeld 

 appears to have adopted our classification in the main, but 

 instead of giving it in the way we gave it and with the sig- 

 nificance which we attached to the diff'erent groups, he has 

 modified it to suit his present purposes, thereby, in my 

 opinion, almost entirely destroying its value. Perhaps under 

 these circumstances it is as well that he does not state the 

 source whence he obtained it. 



The subfamily Chalininse is described on p. 761 as fol- 

 lows : — " Homorrhaphida? rait machtiger Entwicklung des 

 Spongins — Cornacuspongias mit einem Skelet, welches aus 

 einem Netz von Hornfasern besteht, in denen Stabnadeln 

 eingelagert sind. Mit unbedeutenden Subdermalraumen, 

 einfachem Canalsystem und ziemlich grossen, kugligen Geis- 

 selkammern, welche mit einer kleinen Ausstromungsoflfnung 

 versehen sind. Mit nahezu hyaliner Grundsubstanz. Die 

 Skeletfasern sind nicht durch vorstehende Nadeln stachelig. 

 Fleischnadeln, wenn vorhanden, einfach, Toxius, Sigma, 

 Amphitoxius, Spirula, Spirobacter. Keine Anker." 



Now perhaps the most important feature of the classifica- 

 tion proposed by Mr. Ridley and myself is the erection of the 

 family Homorrhaphidge to include those Halichondrina which 



* One of the most important features of our Preliminary Report was the 

 use of the term Desmacidonidie to include all those Halichondrine sponges 

 in which chelae (anchorates) occur, and our diagnosis runs : — " Family 3. 

 Desmacidonidee. Skeleton-spicules of various forms. Auchorate hesh- 

 spicules normally present." It is therefore rather surprising to find, on 

 p. 732 of Dr. von Lendenfeld's work, the passage " Anders verhalt es sich 

 mit den Ankern. Diese bilden ein verwerthbares Criterium, und ich 

 vereinige deshalb auch alle Cornacuspongiaj mit Ankern in eine Gruppe, 

 Desmacidonidae," without the slightest reference to the fact that we had 

 already done precisely the same thing. 



