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

8P0NGIIDA, 401Tliis species hafl a great resemblance to the West-Indian Tuhasororia of iJiachassaing de Fonbressin and Michelotti, but differsfrom the West-Indian species included by Schmidt in his SiphonocTujIirMpapifracm, of which T. sororia is one, in having the spicuk-s•OUO'i millim. and upwards thick, instead of only -002 to -0042, asstated by Schmidt for those species.SIPHONOCHALINA, Schmidt.Although afiparently published (Sjjong. Kiist. Alg, p. 7) as distinctfrom Tvl,a of iJuch. de Fonbr. and Michelotti, it seems to becoextensive with that (older) genus, I have, however, provisionallyretained the name for convenience, for a few forms with narrow,thick-waUed tubes, like those of the type species S. c/rriacea (I. c).30, Siphonochalina tabulosa, var.Spongia tubulosa, Exper, I'flMnzfnf.h. IWrtielz. i. p. 190, pi, liv.Siphonochalina tubulo-ia, Ehlern, iJie Efpernch. Spony. p. 19,f" Spongia bullata var. ^, Lamarck, Ann. Muh. Hint. Nat. xx, p. 4-37.Small colonies, some agreeing well with Esper's figure, some withthe tubes scarcely rising above the general surface. The skeletonspiculesare rather longer and more slender than is indicated byEhlers's measurements, viz. '17 by -000 millim, (Ehlers gives -11 to•13 by '012 miUim,) ; the smaller ones mentioned by him areobviously young.Several specimens, dr}' and in spirit.Hah. Thursday Island, Channel Eock, Torres Straits, depth ? ;Port Molle, Queensland, " beach,"Distribution, Cape of Good Hope (Esper).31, Tuhulodigitus communis.Carter, Ann. 4" yJay. N. II. (i>) ix. p. 307,The present specimens, preserved in spirit, agree sufficiently withMr. Carters description as regards external characters. The colour(in spirit) is chiefly a dark earthy brown, which may very probablyhave been altered from the purj>le described by Mr, Carter, Thefibre is strongly homy, slender, and very flexible, -OS-d to '042millim, in diameter in the case of the primaries, -028 to -OSo inthe secondaries; spicules 1- to 3- (rarely 4-) serial in the primaries,1- or 2-serial in the secondaries. In Mr, Carter's specimens thespicules appear to be relatively somewhat more abundant. Colourpale amber-yellow. Although I have not observed in these specimensa constant difference in size between the axial and peripheralspicules of the fibre, such as that which Mr. Carter notices (I.e.), thereis, nevertheless, a very marked dimorfjhism in the spicules. Betweenthose of the commoner, slender acerate form, gradually sharp-pointed,size '1 by -OO.^ millim., are intercalated in various places stouterones of similar shape, but in size -14 by "0063 millim., and theysometimes occur by the side of the slenderer form. From the2j)