462 " THETIS SCIENTIFIC RESULTS. 



and ii-regular tufts project at the external surface of the nodes. 

 In every part of the organism the spicules are irregularly disposed 

 and apparently devoid of any trace of spongin. The slender, 

 slightly curved oxeote spicules measure 0-15 mm. in length and are 

 0-006 mm. in diameter; their size is very different from those of 

 Ceraochalina hvis, Ldf., derived from the fragment of the type, 

 which are 0-35 to 004 mm. in length and 0-0015 to 0002 mm. in 

 diameter. 



Whilst on tlie subject of the so-called algal pseudomorph, it 

 may be vi^ell to state that the colour of Echinoclathria macro- 

 2)ora, Ldf., described as " a bright madder brown," is due to the 

 presence of a red filamentous alga which ramifies through the 

 wliole sponge, including the fibres. 



Subfamily RENIERIN^, Schmidt 



RENIERA, Nardo. 



RENIERA DENDYT, Whitelegge. 



Reniera dendyi, Whitelegge, Rec. Austr. Mus., iv., No. 2, 1901, 

 p. 67, pi. X., fig. 1. 



Station 15. 



A small example was obtained off Norah Head in 32-48 

 fathoms. 



GELLIUS, Grai/. 



GELLIUS REPTANS, sp. nov. 



Station 54. 



Sponge encrusting, about 10 mm. in height, and indefinite in 

 extent, growing on a papyraceous worm tube. Surface covered 

 with a delicate reticulated epidermis, with numerous small pores 

 and a few scattered oscula about 0-5 mm. in diameter. Colour 

 dirty cream. Texture bread-like and friable. 



Skeleton composed of loosely arranged whisps of spicules, 

 without perceptible spongin. The bundles of spicules in the 

 denser part of the sponge may have about twelve or more in an 

 irregular row. At the surface the spicules are ill-arranged, but 

 in some parts there is a tendency towards more definite order, 

 forming a subquadrate or a triangular mesh, the size of the latter 

 being governed by the length of the spicules. 



