SPONGIIBA. ' 411 



time I forbear to assign a specific name ; it appears not to have 

 been described before. It also resembles Spongia planeella, La- 

 marck (a Chalinid with strong fibre and smaller spicules), ex- 

 ternally. Future researches will, no doubt, prove this to be a 

 distinct species, to which the name Beniera infundibuldris may be 

 given. 



Hah. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-6 fms. ; bottom sand and 

 rock. 



44. Reniera, sp. 



Honeycombed. An imperfect specimen. From an incrusting 

 base arise narrow trabeculae, which meet above and enclose mean- 

 dering channels, 3 to 5 miUim. in diameter. The aspect of the mass 

 is that of a piece of wood almost reduced, to fragments by some 

 boring animal, or of a much folded piece of chamois-leather. Tex- 

 ture of sponge in spirit compact, brittle ; colour very pale buff. 

 Surface (apart from the large ridges and canals) even, smooth. Main 

 skeleton — general arrangement rectangular near surface, irregular 

 near base ; spicules of fibre very loosely aggregated ; both primary 

 and secondary fibres bi- to multispicular, primary fibres •14 to -18 

 millim. apart. Lines of growth very apparent. Dermal skeleton a 

 1- to 2-serial network of spicules, with triangular polygonal meshes. 

 Sarcode very pale buff, opaque. Spicules smooth acerate, slightly 

 curved, tapering to sharp points from about three diameters from 

 ends ; size -2 by -0085 millim. 



I can find no such species described from Australia, and I know 

 of no European form Uke it. 



Bab. Port Darwin, 8-12 fms. 



PELLINA. 



Schmidt, Spong. Ail. Geb. p. 41. 



The want of regularity and definiteness in the structure and 

 arrangement of the fibres, and the large size of the spicules, appear 

 to me to be more distinctive attributes of Pellina than Schmidt's 

 character, viz. the possession of a distinct dermis ; but it is to species 

 combining a reticular dermis with these two characters that I here 

 apply the name. 



45. Pellina muricata. (Plate XXXIX. fig. J ; 

 Plate XLI. fig. v'.) 



Aggregations of irregularly united short parallel tubes, 6 to 10 

 millim. in diameter, lumen 3 to 7 millim. across ; tubes cylindrical, 

 summit usually widely open. Surface asperated with sharp monticular 

 points, 1 to 2 millim. high ; glabrous between and over bases of points. 

 Texture in spirit firm, slightly compressible, but somewhat brittle. 

 Surface harsh to touch; normal colour apparently pale brown. 

 Main skeleton composed of compact spiculo-fibre, the spicules 

 united by a colourless transparent substance ; the primary fibres 



