SPONGES — WHITELEGGE. 495 



CLATHRIA INANCHORATA, Bldley and Bendy. 



Glatliria inancliorata, Ridley and Dendy, Chall. Rep., Zool., xx., 

 1887, p. 150, pi. xxviii., fig. 4, pi. xxix., figs. 13, 13a. 



Station 48. 



Four examples of this well mai'ked species were obtained off 

 Wollongong. The specimens measure about 130 mm. in height 

 and from 5 to 10 mm. in diameter. Three out of the four 

 examples are attached to fragments of gorgonoid stems or bits of 

 shells. The rugose appearance of the external surface and the 

 abundant stout toxa are characteristic of this interesting species. 



The " Thetis " specimens were obtained at a depth of 56 

 fathoms, and the " Challenger " examples were procured from a 

 depth of 150 fathoms. 



CLATHRIA STRIATA, sp. nov, 



(Plate xlv., fig. 27.) 



Stations 36, 44. 



Sponge flabellate, shortly stipitate, with a well developed attach- 

 ment base. The specimen figured measures 335 mm. in height, 

 and nearly 200 mm. in breadth; the footstalk is 10 mm, in 

 diameter ; the lamina is about 5 mm. in thickness near the base, 

 and gradually becoming thinner as the margin and summit is 

 approached ; here it measures about 1-5 or 2 mm. The dermal 

 surface exhibits a thin, white, porous crust, and presents a some- 

 what wavy aspect, together with numerous striae about 1 or 2 

 mm. in diameter. The latter are very distinct on the basal half 

 of the sponge, and their course is irregular, but mainly longitu- 

 dinal ; here and there they combine and form low ridges. Texture 

 in the dried state slightly compressible, but rather brittle ; colour 

 white, the worn surface being yellowish-grey. 



The skeleton consists of a stout axial plexus of horny fibres ; 

 the secondai'ies are given off at nearly right angles except ne«r the 

 summit, where they gracefully curve outwards, and terminate in 

 radiating tufts of slender, smooth styli. The primary fibres are 

 from 0'2 to 03 mm. in diameter, and are frequently less than 

 that distance apart; they are cored with stout smooth styli, 

 which are ill-arranged and rarely more than three or four in a 

 row ; the surface bears only a moderate number of short, faintly 

 spined echinating styli. The spicular characters of the secondary 

 fibres do not differ greatly from the primaries. The connecting 

 fibres are slender, with one or more spined styli, and either with 

 or without spicules in the axis. Centrally the mesh is oval or 

 oblong, laterally it is more or less rectangular. 



