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

410 COLLECTIONS FROM MELANESIA.8pongida" (xlnu. & Mag. N. H. (4) xvi. p. 178) calls Crassa ; in itscup-shaped form and cylindrical spicules it is evidently nearly alliedto R. cratera, Schmidt (A-dr. Meer. p. 73). It was described byLamarck in 1815, and has not been since identified as a sponge orredescribed. The present specimen agrees well with the description,and with the specimen which represents the species in the Museum,in both the larger and the minuter characters. It is certainly not,as Lamarck suggests {I. c), the Spongia cristata of Ellis andSolauder.Bab. Port Denison, Queensland, 4 fms.Distribution. Lamarck's conjecture as to the locality, viz. "Seas ofEurope, " can hardly be correct.42. Eeniera, sp.Wall-like. A small specimen attached to a filamentous Alga.It is erect, broad, laterally compressed ; maximum thickness 6millim., length 25 millim., height 19 millim. On the sloping andnarrow upper margin is placed one blind rounded eminence and thesuborbicular opening, 4-5 millim. wide, of a deep cloacal cavity,which rises from near the base of the sponge. The skeleton-fibreshave 1- or 2-serially ai'ranged spicules ; the latter are short, smooth,curved acerates, tapering to sharp points from within about threediameters of ends, size -11 by '006 millim. Texture of sponge inspirit soft, brittle ; colour dull pinkish grey. Surface even, glabrous.Hub. Port Darwin, between tide-marks ; bottom mud and rock.43. Eeniera, sp.Laminar. Some fragments of a laminar Eeniera (s. str.) of erecthabit occur in the collection. The lamina is 1 to 2 millim. thick,and exhibits curves in some pieces, perhaps indicating that theoriginal form was cup- shaped ; its free edge is quite thin; bothsurfaces are quite even and of a texture I'esembling fine cloth,exhibiting very minute apertures, closely set, all over. Texture ofsponge in spirit very soft and compressible, subelastic, but veryreadily torn ; colour dull pale yellowish brown. Main skeleton veryregular ;primary lines biserinl, running parallel or obliquely tolateral surfaces in centre of lamina, but curving out towards thesurface of the sponge, which they meet at right angles ; these linesscarcely one spicule's length apart ; secondary lines uuiserial, thesingle spicules usually crossing obliquely the spaces between, theprimaries. Sarcode dull brown, rather granular. Spicules smoothacerate, very slightly curved, tapering graduUy to sharp points fromabout five diameters from ends ; size -175 by •0079 millim.The specimen when entire must have been two or threeinches high and as many wide. It strongly resembles Isodictifdinfundibuliformis, Bowerbank, in growth, texture, and surface-characters,but its spicules are less stout and do not include acuateforms. It is a striking species, and should be recognized from theabove description when met with in a perfect state ; until that