60 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. {January, 1913 
places to which little or no light penetrated, the sponge was of 
a dirty white 
On two occasions I found (near Tiberias) specimens that 
had become completely or partly desiccated owing to the sea- 
sonal shrinkage of the lake. These contained numerous gem- 
mules and were in a state of partial disintegration. 
Topsent in describing his ‘‘ variety ’’ syriaca laid stress on 
two points, (2) the presence of spined as well as smooth macros- 
cleres and (zi) the large size of the gemmule-spicules. In none 
relatively slender. ‘They are very variable in size, those that 
were actually incorporated in the skeleton varying in length 
rom 0°285 to 0°374 mm. and in greatest transverse diameter 
from 00123 to 00205 mm. Smaller spicules were observed 
lying free in the interstices of the skeleton, but resembled the 
larger ones in outline. 
e gemmule-spicules were also variable in size, being 
from 0:0246 to 0-046 mm. long; but very few were as short as 
0-03 mm. The spines on the shafts were as a rule more slender 
than those represented in Topsent’s figure of the gemmule- 
spicules of the form syriaca. They thus provide a link between 
the gemmule-spicules of typical European specimens of the 
species and of the form from Lake Huleh and the Barada. 
8, however, they are on an average distinctly larger than 
those of the former, I consign my specimens to the race syriaca. 
can detect no bubble-cells (cystocytes) in the parenchyma 
of well-preserved specimens. 
Subfamily POTAMOLEPIDIN AE, nov. 
_ This subfamily is distinguished from the Spongillinae (that 
is to say from the remainder of the Spongillidae) by the total 
absence of true microscleres. In some species there are two 
kinds of macroscleres, but although one of them is usually more 
slender than the other, there is no marked difference in length. 
semmules are as a rule completely absent: if they are present 
they lack not only microscleres but also pneumatic coverings 
and foramina. ; 
The sponges of this subfamily are, as a rule, at least mode- 
rately hard; they have not, however, the stony hardness of 
Uruguaya, and some are much less hard than others. 
