334 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA. 



linear ridges, at the very point ; size about 2*6 by '21 millim. 

 (iv.) Smaller spicules, as (iii.), but generally more curved; the 

 tubercles at the outer end are strongly developed and project for- 

 ward, often giving quite a feat'hered appearance to the point ; size 

 about -64 by -053 to -07 miUim. A variety, which may be dis- 

 tinguished as var. loevior, represented by two young specimens, 

 has the tubercles on the larger spicules smaller, usually simple, 

 and fewer in number. 



Hah. (Typical form) Port Darwin, Percy Island, and Port Molle, 

 Queensland, depths 0-14 fms.,' bottom various; also McClure Gulf, 

 New Guinea (Studer). Var. loevior occurs ^n the Arafura Sea, off 

 N.W. coast of Australia, 32-36 fms., and Dundas Straits, 17 fms., 

 bottom various. 



Ohs. The aggregation of lobules at the surface, though close, is 

 not BO close as in the type specimen of 8. spinosa, Gray, in which, 

 moreover, the spicules are much larger and the shape of the colony 

 as a whole more horizontal than here ; the two species, however, are 

 closely allied. Several specimens occur in the collection. Of those 

 species which are the best known and described hitherto, viz. the 

 Eed-Sea forms described by Klunzinger, S. hemprichi appears to be 

 the most nearly allied; it has,, however, the spicule-tubercles con- 

 siderably larger in proportion, and the spicules of the stem tend to 

 be blunt instead of fusiform, and instead of being longitudinally, 

 they are more or less transversely arranged. 



Telestin^. 



6. Telesto smithi. 



Telesco smithii, Gray, Ann. Sr Mag. N: H. (4) iii. p. 21, fig. 

 AlexeUa smithii, id. ibid. p. 22. 



A considerable quantity, in masses, in conjunction with Sponges 

 and articulate Polyzoa, from the Arafura Sea. It was originally 

 described from Sydney, New South Wales. 



Hah.- Arafura Sea, 32-36 fms. ; Port MoUe, Queensland, 12-20 

 ima. 



PENNATULID^. 

 7. Pteroides javanica. 



Sleeker, NatuurTamd. Tijdsch. Batav. xx. p. 402 ; KoUiker, Anat.- 

 sygt. Beschreih. Alcyon., Permat^ p. 104. 



A very young specimen in spirit. It agrees in its chief characters 

 and general facies with this species, though it has only 10-12 

 leaves on each side, and the largest leaves have only 4-6 chief rays ; 

 these low proportions, however, are perhaps due to youth. The 

 stem is surrounded by a dark band opposite the lowest leaves, and- 

 by another about halfway up that part of the axis on which the 



