SPONGES FROM THE AiJROLHOS ISLANDS. 501 
Previously knoivn iJistrihution {of variety). Gulf of Manaar and Ceylon 
(Dendy). 
Register No. and Locality. I. 2, Turtle Bay. 
31. Phlceodictyon abkolhosensis n. sp. (PI. 26. fig. 11.) 
The single specimen, which is about 45 mm. long, o5 mm. wide and 
12 mm. thick, is somewhat flattened, cake-shaped, and has probably been 
attached to a rock by its slightly concave under surface. The smooth, 
convex upper surface gives off numerous very thin-walled fistulas of varying 
sizes, the largest being about 15 mm. in length. The diameter of the 
fistulse is from 3 to 5 mm. ; some of the smaller ones end blindly ; these 
either bear inhalant pores or are young stages of the larger ones, which 
terminate each in a wide vent. The body generally is covered with a thin 
rind (dermal membrane), which easily peels off. Colour in spirit greyish 
brown; texture internally very soft and spongy, distinctly fibro-reticulate. 
The skeleton of the interior consists of a loose, irregular, wide-meshed 
network of multispicular fibre, averaging about 0"065 mm. in diameter. 
The fibres are compact, the spicules being surrounded by a good quantity of 
pale-coloured spongin. Numerous loose spicules, mostly arranged in small 
bundles of one spicule's length, are scattered through the soft ground 
substance, which also contains many small brown pigment granules. 
Immediately beneath the surface and parallel with it is an irregular reticu- 
lation of similar spicular fibre, which tends to separate from the underlying- 
main skeleton and come away with the dermal membrane when the latter is 
peeled off. The skeleton of the dermal membrane and that of the walls of 
the fistulse consists of a very dense feltwork of single spicules Ij'ing 
tangentially in approximately a single layer. 
Spicules : — Oxea (PL 26. fig. 11) ; slightly curved, sharply and fairly 
gradually pointed at each end, sometimes hastate, measuring about 0"22 by 
0-006 mm. 
This species seems to approach Pldceodictyon seychellense Dendy [1921 B] 
most closely. 
Register No. and Locality. II. 9, Wooded Isle. 
Phlceodictyon sp. 
There are two small fistulas, light brown in colour, which have evidently 
been broken off from the surface of a Phlosodictyon. 
Register No. and Locality. VI. 12 c, Sandy Isle. 
32. PSEUDOESPERIA CARTBRI n. Sp. (PI. 26. fig. 12.) 
Sponge lobose, elongated (probably horizontally), slightly compressed, 
with corruo-ated surface. Vents and pores not seen. The dermal membrane 
is distinct and thick, overlying the cavernous and coarsely fibrous interior. 
Colour in spirit brown ; texture soft and compressible. 
