THE SPONGES OP FUNAFUTI WHITELEGGE. 329 



Of this well marked species there are two examples, -one dry 

 the other in spirit. The dried example measures 170 mm. by 

 120 mm., and 100 mm. in height. The one in spirit measures 

 120 mm. by 95 mm., and 90 mm. in height. They are thus 

 larger than those obtained by the Challenger Expedition. 



The spined styli are smaller than those of the type, they seldom 

 exceed 0-12 in length. 



Colour in spirit, gray. 



Dredged in the lagoon in company with Laganum and Maretia. 



FAMILY AXINELLIDuE. 

 ACANTHELLA STIPITATA, Carter. 



Acanthella stipitata, Carter, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., (5), 

 vii., p. 380, pi. xviii., tig. 8 ; Ridley & Bendy, Chall. Rep. 

 Zool., xx., p. 178 ; Dendy, Proc. Roy. Soc. Vic., (n.s.) ix., 

 1896, p. 237. 



A small fragment is here somewhat doubtfully referred to this 

 species. 



Deep water in the lagoon. 



ACANTHELLA PULCHERRIMA, Ridley & Dendy. 

 Acanthella pulcherrima, Ridley & Dendy, Chall. Rep. Zool., xx., 



p. 177, pi. xxxii., fig. 3. 



A single specimen of this species is in the collection. 

 Associated with the preceeding. 



ClOCALYPTA INCRUSTANS, sp. nov. 



(Plate xviii., fig. 2). 



Sponge incrusting, forming large flat expansions of a fairly 

 uniform thickness. There are several pieces, the largest is 55 mm. 

 by 45 mm., and 10 mm. in thickness. 



Colour in formol yellowish-white. 



Texture soft and fragile, readily breaking by its own weight if 

 handled. 



Surface minutely conulose ; the conuli are from 1 to 1 '5 mm. 

 apart, and from 0*5 to 1 mm. in height. 



The dermal membrane is thin and transparent, with numerous 

 inhalent pores which are situated in the depressions between the 

 conuli. Oscula scattered about 2 '5 mm. in diameter, with slightly 

 raised margins. 



Skeleton. The main skeleton consists of columns of spiculo- 

 fibre without much obvious spongin. The columns run vertically 

 from the base to the surface where they terminate and form the 

 support of the dermal membrane. The columns are from 0-3 to 0'6 

 mm. in diameter, they are separated by spaces 0-4 to 0'6 mm. wide. 



