SPONGIIDA.- 393 



usually adopted in the family ChalinidsB, viz. that by the external 

 form, in which both Carter and Schmidt agree. So long as, in the 

 remaining features of their organization, the different members of 

 the family did not present any suflSciently distinctive characters, it 

 was impossible to do otherwise than arrange them by this character, 

 which, indeed, appears to possess, from its approximate constancy in 

 the species, more importance than in some other families of Monacti- 

 nellida. Now, however, that two markedly distinct types of flesh- 

 spicules have been found to occur (c/. the anohorate in Homceodictya 

 ( OhaUna, Carter) palmata, Johnston), in addition to the normal ace- 

 rate or fine subcylindrical, it seems necessary to apply the same rule 

 as in other families, and allow the spicular characters, where they are 

 well marked, precedence over those derived from the general form. 

 Thus I have thought it right to unite here species which would, 

 cceteris paribus, be classed in groups Beptata and Aculeata of two 

 distinct families (Chalinida and Cavochalinida) of Mr. Carter's classi- 

 fication. This single spicular character is supported in this case by 

 the coexistence of a firm texture and a rectangular arrangement of 

 the skeleton-fibre. 



On the comparatively slight value of aculeation of the surface 

 and of erect or decumloent growth, see below under Cladochalina 

 subarmigera. 



In the present collection the family is represented by no less than 

 7 genera (8, if Siphonochalina is to be regarded as distinct from 

 Tuba) and 15 species, of which 1 genus and 5 species are described 

 as new. The latter are probably not forms of any great rarity, but 

 owe their novelty to the very slight attention which has hitherto 

 been paid to the Chalinidae of the Indo-Pacific region ; the chief con- 

 tributors to the fauna hitherto being Mr. Carter, who has described 

 or re-identified some 8 or 9 forms from this region, and Dr. Bower- 

 bank, with 3 or 4 species. The identification of two of the species 

 is unfortunately somewhat uncertain, from the very scanty descrip- 

 tions given by Lamarck, their original describer. 



With the exception of Toxoehalina, the species have a strong 

 resemblance to Atlantic forms, and in three cases (Cladochalina 

 armigera, 0. pergamentacea and Acervochalina finitimd) have been 

 satisfactorily determined as identical with species found near the 

 eastern coast of America (West Indies and Brazil). 



CHALINA, Bowerbank. 



This genus was merely mentioned by name in Grant's ' Tabular 

 View of the Animal Kingdom ' (1861). In 1864 Dr. Bowerbank* 

 (first) defined correctly the genus, assigning to it Spongia oculata, 

 PaUas, as its type species. Schmidt therefore appears to me to be in 

 the wrong when he (Atl. Geb. p. 32) removes this species to his, genus 

 Chalinulu, of 1868, and restricts Ghalina to species which have the 

 habitus of Euspongia and Cacospongia. 



* Mon. Brit. Spong. i. p. 208. 



