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

SPONGIIDA. 407name, for waut of characters by which to identify species withothers which I know merely by descriptions ; I have, however, givendescriptions in these cases, in order that the species may be identified(if possible) by future comparisons with specimens of species towhich I have not access at present.RENIERA, Nardo.This genus is distinguished by the regularity of its main skeleton,the small size of its spicules, and the want of an evident distinctdermal skeleton. The latter point, however, is not very satisfactorilyindicated in all the species which seem otherwise referable to thogenus.37. Reniera indistincta, var.Isodictya indistincta, Botoerbank, Mon. Brit. Spong. ii. p. 290, iii.pi. li. figs. 1-4, iv. p. 119.A small specimen in spirit, incrustiug stones. The surfaceis smooth, formed of a thin but strong membrane, of grey colour(in spirit), penetrated by moderately numerous round perforations,•5 millim. across. Vents few, occasionally slightly elevated, 2 to 3millim. in diameter. Main skeleton agreeing fairly with the typicalspecimen of the species ; a dermal network, uni- to bispicular (inthe tyije specimen it appears to exist, although Bowerbank deniesit, but it is somewhat irregular there). Barcode yellowish brown,slightly granular (it is more yellow in the type). Spicules : shapeas in type ; size -16 by "0063 millim., the same as in the type. Thevents are ratlier smaller in the type, and the colour in the dry stateis reddish brown ; but the agreement in the characters on the wholeis so close that I have little hesitation in making this identification.Hah. Prince of Wales Channel, Torres Straits, 7-9 fms.Distribution. British Islands and Guernsey (Bowerbanh).A specimen without distinct vents, but with a curious system ofbranching grooves on the surface, and of a dark greenish colour,appears to be also referable to this form.Hub. Alert Island, Torres Straits, 7 fms.38. Eeniera scyphonoides.Spongia scyphonoides, Lamarck, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. xx. p. 437.An elegant, slightly tortuous, tubular Reniera, 45 millim. high,tapering from its subcylindrical basal portion, which is 3-4 millim.thick, to an elliptical, slightly bullate summit, preceded immediatelyby a more decidedly flattened portion, the two diameters of whichare respectively 4 and 8 millim. Long and short diameters of mouthTwo small vents, 1 millim. inof tube 2i and 4 millim. respectively.diameter, open on one margin of the compressed part of the sponge,and one of about "4 millim. diameter on the opposite margin.