326 FUNAFUTI ATOLL. 



SPINOSELLA GLOMBRATA, sp. nov. 

 (Plate xviii., fig. 1). 



Sponge, large cake-shaped, attached by a broad base. From 

 the upper irregularly convex surface arise numerous short narrow 

 tubes. The largest example is somewhat water worn, and measures 

 300 mm. in its long and 250 mm. in its short diameter, and about 

 70 mm. in height. The tubes vary greatly in size. The larger 

 are 30 mm. in height, 10 mm. in external diameter, without the 

 spinose processes, the internal diameter averages about 5 mm., 

 the largest are about 8 mm. the smallest about 2 mm. 



Colour of the dried sponge is light brownish gray. 



The tubes are rarely free, being more or less united laterally 

 throughout their length. The surface is beset with numerous 

 prominent aculeations, they vary from 3 to 6 mm. in length, and 

 are usually about 3 mm. apart ; the summits of the tubes are 

 fringed with from five to twelve of these processes. The dermal 

 surface consists of a, close reticulation of fine fibres, with numerous 

 circular pores 0'2 to - 5 mm. in diameter. The oscula are 1 to 

 1 -5 mm. in diameter, and are fairly abundant on the inner surface 

 of the tubes. 



The main skeleton is composed of well developed horny fibre, 

 with a polygonal or subrectangular mesh. The main fibres are 

 from 0-8 to '1 mm., the secondaries 0-5 mm. in diameter, the 

 former are sparsely cored with slightly curved oxeote spicules, 

 the latter by a series of three or four, in the slender connecting 

 fibres the spicules are uni- or biserially arranged. 



Megasclera Slightly curved oxea with rather blunt points. 



Size About 0-07 by 0-002 mm. 



Reefs in the lagoon at low water, plentiful. 



FAMILY HETERORRHAPHID^. 



GELLIUS ACULEATUS, sp. nov. 



(Plate xviii., fig. 3). 



Sponge incrusting (attached to a piece of coral), measuring 45 

 mm. by 20 mm., and from 5 to 12 mm. in thickness. 



Surface v( ry uneven possessing numerous compressed promi- 

 nences, from 4 to 7 mm. in height, 0'5 to 0'8 mm. in their broad 

 diameter, and from 1 to 3 mm. apart, proximally the processes 

 are connected by narrow ridges, distally they taper to acute 

 points ; they are more or less compressed throughout their length, 

 rarely rounded. 



Dermal membrane, thin, smooth and somewhat opaque, pores not 

 visible, oscula few, scattered, occurring between the aculeate pro- 

 cesses, subcircular in shape and from 1-2 to 1-5 mm. in diameter. 



Texture soft, compressible, moderately tough. 



Colour in spirit dirty cream. 



