466 "THETIS SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



Subfamily PHLCEODICTYIN^, Carter. 



RHIZOCHALINA, Schmidt. 



RHIZOCHALINA PUTRIDOSA {? Lamarck). 



1 Alcyonium piotridositin, Lamarck, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris., 



i., p. 168. 

 Rhizochalina pxUridosa, Ridley and Dendy, Chall. Rep., Zool., xx., 



p. 33, pi. viii., figs. 5-5a, pi. ix, figs. 1, 7. 



Station 34. 



A single example of this species was obtained off Port Jackson 

 in about 39 fathoms. The specimen is subglobose and measures 

 100 mm. All the fistula when perfect are rounded at the summit 

 and minutely porous. The fitulose processes vary from 5 to 

 70 mm. or more in height. The surface genei-ally is more or less 

 obscured by growths of Bryozoa, Gorgonia, Hydroid Zoophytes 

 and other sponges. The spicules consist of slightly curved oxea 

 Size about 0-195 by 0-014 mm. 



Family POECILOSCLERID^, Topsent 



Subfamily ESPERELLIN^, Ridley and Dendy. 



ESPERELLA, Vosmaer. 



ESPERELLA ANCORINA, sp. nov. 



(Plate xliii., fig. 3.) 



Station 36. 



Sponge palmo-digitate with a well defined stalk and numerous 

 irregular branches ; the latter vary from 30 to 230 mm. in 

 length and from 15 to '25 mm. in diameter ; they are compressed 

 in their proximal half and subcylindrical distally ; the summits 

 are either rounded or obliquely truncated. The surface generally 

 is minutely wrinkled and slightly wavy ; towards the apices of 

 the branches there are numerous small conuli about 0-5 to 1 mm. 

 in height ; the tips of the branches exhibit a few shallow 

 depressions. The dermal surface is finely porous ; the oscula are 

 scattered, substellate — about I'S or 2 mm. in diameter — and 

 mostly confined to one side of the sponge ; a few are indicated 

 on the longest branch on the risrht hand side of the figure. 



