468 COLIEOTIONS FROM MELANESIA. 



genus. The first species, Suberita typus, Nardo, does not appear to 

 have been recognized by authors ; the next is Aleyonium domuneula 

 of Olivi, the Hymeniacidon suberea of Bowerbank, the spioulation of 

 which consists of a simple spinulate. Even if we include in the genus 

 the third species, Suberites ficus, Nardo (probably the Hymeniacidon 

 ficus of Bowerbank), which possesses, in addition to the spinulate, a 

 cylindrical flesh-spicule with a central inflation, those free compact 

 Suberitidae, with skeleton spinulate, whose flesh-spicule is a modified 

 stellate ("spinispirula," Carter), cannotbe admitted to the same fellow- 

 ship, and Schmidt's genus Spirastrella must receive all such. Besides 

 Spirastrdla eunetatrix and vidua, Schmidt, Hymeniacidon angulata, 

 Bowerbank, Aleyonium purpureum., Lamarck, and several other 

 species enumerated by Mr. Carter in his valuable " List of Suberites " 

 lately pubhshed (Ann. & Mag. N. H. 1882, ix. p. 349 and following 

 pages) must be included in the genus. To any one who has noticed 

 the practical identity in spiculation between typical Spirastrelloe and 

 numerous species of Vioa (e. g. johnstoni, Schmidt, and several de- 

 scribed by Hancock as Glionce), it must be a matter for serious 

 consideration whether the boring habit and that general arrange- 

 ment of their tissues which is expressed by Mr. Carter by the term 

 Laxa, which he has applied to the group in which he places Cliona and 

 Vioa, are of sufficient importance to justify their being kept distinct 

 from their non-boring allies, the Sjairastrellce. To me it seems very 

 possible that they may some day be demonstrated to possess a free 

 state, corresponding to Pa/pillina suberea, Schmidt (=Rha]ohyrus 

 grifflthsii, Bowerbank), which Mr. Carter has found to be merely 

 the free condition of Vioa (Oliona) celata ; such a free state should 

 be carefuUy watched for. 



98. Spirastrella vagahunda. (Plate XLin. figs, e, e'.) 



" Suberites, ? sp. undescribed. Trincomalee."* Carter, Ann. & Maa. 

 iV. H. 1882, ix. p. 352. 



Massive, attached by broad base, tending to grow up into large 

 nodular elevations, which may bear one or more vents. General 

 surface slightly verrueose (in spirit), more so in large dry specimens, 

 smooth over and between inequalities of surface. Colour (in dry 

 state) pale to dark yellowish brown, in spirit oUve greenish brown. 

 Vents of two kinds : — (1) At summit of the large elevations of 

 surface, one or more (sometimes 5 to 8) on each ; opening level with 

 surface ; suboval in uncontracted state, 2 to 10 millim. in greatest 

 diameter, leading into wide and deep excretory canals. (2) On 

 general surface of sponge, usually between the lesser inequalities of 

 the surface, subcircular, with thickened margins, about -8 miUim. in 

 average diameter. 



* In the Trincomalee specimen deeeribed by Mr. Carter the vents are not 

 placed at the apices of the lobes of the sponge, the adult spicule is scarcely 

 spinulate at all, and measures only -0127 millim. in diameter, and the spini- 

 spirulsB appear to be scarce. For these reasons it appears desirable to distinguish 

 it und?r the name 8. vagahunda, var. trincomaliensis. 



