Vol. IX, No. 1.] Sponges of the Lake of Tiberias. 65 
[N.S.] 
above, looks’ very regular, the meshes being nearly circular in 
outline ! STAR v, fig. 
—The spicules are more slender and more sharply 
pointed ‘hae those of the other species of Nudospongilla found 
in the lake. 
No gemmules were found. 
Type.—Z.B.V. No. *23° Ind. Mus 
Habitat.—Lake of Tiberias and R. Jordan at and near 
its exit therefrom. N. mappa was found at every spot 
to smaller stones covered by fairly large ones. The largest 
specimens were taken actually in the adaan near its exit. 
None were taken in more than one metre of w 
mappa resembles some species of Stratosponita in 
structure, but I could find no trace of mules in any 
of the many a examined both preserved raat in a living 
condition. Desiccated sponges of the species were often found 
above ‘He pipet water-level. 
From £. fluviatilis syriaca the new species, which resembles 
it in external appearance, can be at once distinguished by 
is not a feature of any importance in the Spongillidae, in 
which species with spiny ng seen are often closely allied 
to Species with smooth ones 
Nudospongilla aster, sp. nov. 
(Plate ii, fig. 3; plate iii. figs. 4, 4a). 
Sponge hard but very friable, forming a crust of no great. 
and shells. Th 
ea, stones shells. e main efferent channels open 
poi re on the surface, as a rule in little star-shaped groups, 
so that there is no true osculum. Sometimes —. eae 
distal st are only covered by the dermal membra: The 
external surface of the sponge is smooth. The atone is . car 
The pare iahpoies is bulky in spite of the compactness of the 
skeleton, and the cartion offerent apg nels have stout and clearly 
marked walls. Their tubular character is reflected to some extent in the 
skeleton of the sponge, but gives it a L oiokter appearance of regularity 
than it actually possesses. 
