252 DR. nilKDE AXU ME. UOLMES O'S SPONGE-EEMAIKS 



Summary/ of Genera and Species of HcxactinelUcl Sponges 

 ■ in the Oamarw Deposit. 



Hexactikellid^ . 



No. of Species. 



5 sp. Hyalonema, Grray. 

 1 sp. Pheronema, Leidy. 



1 sp. Caulophaciis, F. E. Schulze. 



2 sp. CrateromorpJia (?), Grray. 



2 sp. Dictyonine genus {Aphrocallistes (?) )• 

 As in the groups previously referred to, so also in this, only 

 an approximate estimate of the genera and species present in 

 the material examined can be obtained from the detached spi- 

 cules. The species of Hyalonema and Pheronema have been 

 determined from the amphidisc spicules, and to these genera may 

 be referred the five-rayed pinule spicules (Pi. XV. figs. 5-9). 

 The six-rayed pinules probably belong to one if not more 

 species of Caulophacus or an allied genus. The large rosette- 

 spicules represent two species of Grater omorplia or an allied 

 genus. The only clue to the dictyonine sponges is furnished by 

 the two forms of scopule flesh-spicules, which belong either to 

 Aphrocallistes or an allied genus. The fragments of dictyonine 

 mesh, are too minute to give any indication of the genus or 

 species to which they belong. Altogether 11 species and 5 

 genera appear to be represented. 



So far as we are aware, no hexactinellid sponges, whether 

 fossil or recent, have previously been recorded from the New- 

 Zealand region. Even the ' Challenger ' Expedition failed to 

 find any in this area, for Prof. Schulze says : — " Neither on the 

 South-east coast of Australia, nor on the voyage from Sydney 

 to New Zealand, was there any sponge booty captured ; but to 

 the east of the North Island of New Zealand some Hexactinellid 

 spicules at least were obtained, and near the Kermadec Islands 

 as many as six difi'erent species " (Chall. Eept. vol. xxi. p. 432). 



Spicules of unknown relationship. 



PI. VIII. fig. 32. Spicule almond-shaped, compressed, ob- 

 tusely pointed at the ends, one side curved, the other nearly 

 straight. The upper and under surfaces smooth, nearly flat. 

 No canals shown. Length '095 mm., width '027 mm. These 

 spicules are not uncommon in the material. 



