NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 
571 
(see fig. 187) differs very slightly in the characters of its skeleton from Amphilectus 
eclwarcli, a species common in British seas, but whereas the habit of the other known 
species of the genus is either massive or simply ramose, that of the species from 
the Molucca Sea is altogether novel in its family, although it simulates somewhat 
Caulospongici, Kent, which has been placed among the Suberitidse, and Foliolina, 
Schmidt, a Renierid. A new species of Crella {Crella navicelligera ) is remarkable for 
the extraordinary lateral extension of the shaft of its small anchorate spicule, giving it 
the general outline of those reproductive bodies of the Gregarinidse known as ‘ pseudo- 
navieelke.' The Stations between the Cape and Kerguelen Island exhibit a rich fauna 
of European facies, among which may be mentioned a new Vomerula and a fine Gellius 
of extraordinarily delicate and vitreous character, recalling that of many Lyssacine 
Hexactinellida, and with the ends of the usually doubly-pointed skeletal spicule quite 
rounded off. Of the curious, probably almost cosmopolitan, genus Rhizoehalina, immense 
examples, in which the body alone attains a diameter of 6 inches, were obtained in Bass 
Strait ; they are evidently identical with a specimen from South. Australia, described by 
Lamarck in 1815 under the name of Alcyonium putridosum, and are closely related to 
Desmcicidon Jistulosa. Bowerbank. A study of the genus Tedania, by hardening and 
staining the soft tissues, shows that its systematic position is with the Desmacidinidae 
rather than the Renieridse. The long fine 
acerate spicules commonly occur in bundles, 
and evidently represent the ‘ trichites ’ of 
Esperia. 
“ In all, the collection contains about eight)' 
species belonging to this family, of which 
upwards of thirty are new to science. 
“ The Renieridae proper are not numerous. 
The difficulty of finding constant and dis- 
tinctive generic and specific characters in this 
subdivision is well illustrated by the large 
series of Amorphinci megalirrhaphis, Carter, 
from Kerguelen Island. Most of these speci- 
mens, like the typical ones, have a rather pale brown colour and a glabrous surface, and 
consist of low irregularly-shaped masses ; the only traces of skeletal fibre consist of some 
short strands apparently representing the primary or vertical fibres of other Renierids ; 
however, the specimen figured (fig. 188), besides its definite, regularly lobate form and 
dark amber-brown coloration, possesses a very distinct set of primary fibres and a dermal 
reticulation like that of Pellina, with which genus it might have been placed if its 
relations to the other typically Amorphinoid specimens were not obvious. A Pellina, 
forming fiat sheets of large size, occurs in 600 fathoms at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, 
Fig. 188 .—Amorpliina megalirrhaphis, Carter.’ Variety with 
distinct dermal and primary skeletal fibres, and numerous 
vents ( v ), natural size, from the side. Christmas Harbour, 
Kerguelen Island, 60 fathoms. 
