for) 
bo 
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [J anuary, 1913. 
6. A skeletal cortex pro- 
uced a short distance 
enin of transverse. 
in central part of 
ar aC . Cortispongilla, 
b'. No skeletal cortex. 
(Vertical fibres better 
developed than trans- 
verse ones). 
B. Large elliptical central cavity. 
(Sponge hard) .. Pachydictyum. 
B. Central cavity small and ill- 
defined. 
6. Sponge not more than 
moderately hard, fri- 
able ea .. Nudospongilla.* 
b'. Sponge very hard, not 
friable ., .. Potamolepis. 
NUDOSPONGILLA, gen. nov. 
Sponge as a rule moderately hard; never very soft ; friable. 
No well-defined central cavity ; oscula sm 
afferent subdermal cavity well developed: A chitinous basal 
membrane usually present. Cystocytes apparently absent. 
Skele ariable, never very stout: both. 
moderately slender 
mooth but sometimes 
siliceous bodies in any 
Gemmules, if present, devoid of foramina, pneumatic coat 
and spicules, adherent at the base of the sponge, ovoid in 
outline and somewhat flattened. 
T ype-species. Spongilla coggini , Annandale. 
Distribution.—The type-species is from Western China, 
whence a second species (NV. yunnanensis) also comes. Three 
