THE SPONGES OF FUNAFUTI WHITELEOGE. 331 



posed, not strictly vertical to the surface as is usually the case in 

 other species. 



Megasclera (a) Of the main body, large straight styli, a little 

 tapering to a rounded base, and gradually tapering to a not very 

 acute apex, many of the larger spicules which project through the 

 dermis, are suddenly contracted at about one or two diameters 

 from the distal extremity. 



Size About 1-5 by 0-012 mm. 



(6) The small slender styli of the dermal layer have a rounded 

 base and a tapering acute apex, a few similar spicules are found 

 scattered throughout the body of the sponge, especially in the 

 walls of the canals. 



Size About 0-19 by 0-0025 mm. 



Reefs in the lagoon associated with Sarcophyta. 



FAMILY SPIRASTRELLID^J. 



SPIRABTRELLA PAPILLOSA, Ridley & Dendy. 



Spirastrella papillosa, Ridley & Dendy, Ohall. Rep. Zool., xx., p. 



232, pi. xli., fig. 5 ; pi. xlv. figs. 11-110. 



A much broken specimen is here somewhat doubtfully referred 

 to this species. 



The example is reduced to a pulp, and it is impossible to say 

 what its external characters were ; during growth it appears to 

 have enveloped large quantities of broken shells, calcareous sea- 

 weeds, and bits of coral. 



The size and character of the spicules agree closely with the 

 description given in the Challenger Report. 



Colour in formol orange. 



Occurring in the crevices of dead coral, shallow water on the 

 lagoon reefs. 



Order MONOOEEATINA. 



FAMILY SPONGID^E. 



EUSPONGIA IRREGULARIS, var. siLiCATA, Lendenfeld. 

 Euspongia irregularis, var. silicata, Lendenfeld, Mon. Horny 



Sponges, 1889, p. 255, pi. xiii., fig. 2 ; pi. xxi., fig. 10. 

 Two examples of this species are in the collection, one in spirit 

 the other dry. The colour of the spirit specimen is dark blackish 

 brown externally, internally of a light salmon. 



The main fibres of the skeleton are charged with foreign spicules, 

 from the secondary and connecting fibres they appear to be 

 absent. 



On the reefs in the lagoon (ante p. 324). 



