Report on the zoological collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean ...

SPONGIIDA. 399and besides being primarily based on an erect species, requires thespicules to form the greater part of the skeleton-fibre, which hereconciles with the structure of G. limhata by stating that thehorny matter in this species shrivels when dried,27. Acervochalina finitima.Chalina finitima, Schmidt, Atl. Geh. p. 33.Several specimens agreeing with this Atlantic species. Theyhave the general habit of Glathria oroides, Schmidt, which from alow massive body throws out blunt spurs. On the spurs are placednumerous small vents, 1-4 millim. in diameter, biserially or irregularlyarranged. Texture in spirit very soft and elastic ; colour paleyellowish brown. Skeleton network close, rectangular ; fibres stout,pale yellow or colourless ; spicules multiserial in primary, biserialor uniserial in secondary fibres. Sjiicules smooth, gradually andsharply pointed ;size about -1 by '0018 millim. {i. e. a little thinnerthan in West-Indian specimens).Hah. Port Jackson, 0-5 fms., Percy Island, Queensland, 0-5fms. ; Alert Island, Torres Straits, 7 fms.Distrihution. Florida, Antilles (Schmidt).A. finitima differs from the British species limbata in its generalshape, that of limhata being globular to lobate.The specimens measure about 50 millim. (2 inches) in greatestdiameter, and 25 millim. in height.28. TubabuUata.? Spongia buUata, Lamarch, Ann. Mvs. Hist. Nat. xx. p. 43 {neevar. ^) nee Siphonochalina hullata, Schmidt.;Spongia aculeata, Linne, pars, Syst. Nat. ed. 12, p. 1297."Wide-mouthed tubes, 50 to 200 millim. high (2 to 8 inches),rising from a common horizontal lamina, from which they appearto bo formed by the reversion and curling of its edges. Tubesirregular in lumen, 35 to 125 millim. (11 to 5 inches) in maximumdiameter. Surface asperated by a network of low sharp ridges, besotwith numerous sharp points, 1 to 3 millim. high. Mouth of tubessomewhat constricted, inner surface smooth. The surface-tufts areseen on examination generally to proceed from narrow superficialridges which run over the surface in different directions. The prolongationof the margin spoken of by Lamarck is not to be madeout distinctly.Skeleton of narrow rectangular meslies. Primary fibres about '1to '14 millim., secondary '42 to '7 millim. in diameter, both full(in most places) of the acerate spicules, though these are somewhatclosely aggregated. Spicules (i.) fusiform, tapering to sharp pointsfrom within about two diametersof the apices, -IS by 0095 millim. ;also (ii.), probably a variety of (i.), acuatc, about -14 by -0003 millim.This species appears to be widely distributed between Japan and