446 COLLECTIONS FKOM MBLANESIA. 



branches, and the entire surface of smaller branches uneven and 

 covered with small deep vents, about -5 miUim. in diameter and -5 to 

 1 mUlim. apart. Texture of sponge in dry state and in spirit firm, 

 the peripheral portions and the reticulation generally elastic, some- 

 • what compressible and flexible, like cork ; the main stems in dry 

 state hard, woody ; reticulation and lesser branches rather brittle. 

 Surface between pits composed of an incrustation, which is whitish 

 when dry, duU umber to pinkish in spirit ; colour of subjacent tissue 

 pale brown in dry state, pinkish and subtransparent in spirit. 



Main skeleton irregular, consisting of a close reticulation of 

 primary and secondary fibres, which are curved, and form rounded 

 meshes from -18 to -25 miUim. wide ; primaries -044 to "OTmillim., 

 secondaries about "035 miUim. in diameter. Dermal skeleton 

 formed of similar, rather narrower meshes ; fibres 'OSS to -07 miUim. 

 in diameter. 



Spicules : — (1) Smooth acuate, tapering gradually to sharp points 

 and also to base, which is slightly narrower than middle of shaft ; 

 size "2 by '015 miUim. : in axis of fibres and projecting from ends of 

 primaries. (2) Subspinulate acuate, slightly curved, tapering gra- 

 dually to sharp point ; head formed by a slight constriction just above 

 base, which is microspined ; size "34 by -Olo miUim. : in axis of 

 and projecting from ends of primary fibres. (3) Smooth, straight, 

 slender spinulate, with oval head slightly stouter than shaft, taper- 

 ing gradually to sharp point ; size -25 by -005 mUlim. to -15 by 

 •0063 millim. : in the sarcode, especially , at the surface (probably 

 young forms of No. 2). (4) Spined acuate, with slight constriction 

 just above base, spined aU over with small, sharp, straight spines ; 

 size -Oil by -0063 : scattered, echinating' the different fibres at 

 ' right or acute angles. (5) Equianchorate, navicular, with slender 

 shaft and slightly elongate palms with truncate proximal margins, 

 as seen from in front ; -017 miUim. long : abundant in sarcode. 



Hah. Albany Island, north coast of Australia, 3 to 8 fms. ; 

 bottom sand and mud. 



A very fine dry specimen, 455 millim. (I85 inches) by 450 

 millim. (18 inches) in extreme height and diameter respectively, 

 together with a portion in spirit of what must have been also a large 

 specimen, represent this species. The remarkable external charac- 

 ters are not accompanied by any thing striking in the spiculation ; 

 indeed this is remarkable, if for any thing, for its simplicity, the 

 equianchorate being the only flesh-spicule present. I have great 

 pleasure in associating with what is perhaps the finest new sponge 

 of this collection, and the finest known species of its genus, the 

 name of the indefatigable and successful collector who obtained it. 



77. Clathria reimwardti, var. subcylindrica. 

 Clathria reinwardti, Vosm., Notes Roy. Mm. Netherl. ii. p. 162. 



I have little doubt of the identity with Vosmaer's species of a 

 sponge which occurs abundantly in Torres Straits. The general 

 external resemblance to Axinella eannabina is very striking and the 



