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

:;4-i4 COLLECXIONS FROM MELANESIA,but fibre more constantly stout ; thickness from -07 to 2 millim.meshes narrower, viz. "09 to '7 millim. in smaller diameter, andbearing short bhint processes at intervals, echiuated by thick tuftsof the smooth subspinulate spicule on its upper surface, Sarcodevery dark yellowish brown, granular and opaque.Spicules:— (1) Stouter, smooth, subspinulate acuate, straight,with very slight constriction marking off a short head, which isless in diameter than the middle of the shaft ; shaft taperinggradually to sharp point from about centre ; size '2'3 by "0127 millim,in tufts on dermal skeleton. (2) Slender, smooth, spinulate,with slight oval head, nearly straight ; tapering to sharp pointfrom near centre ; size 'So by -0085 millim. : forming axis ofskeleton-fibres. (3) Subspinulate spined acuate, with small globularhead, and tapering to a fine point from about centre ; spinesnumerous, sharp, projecting at right angles to long axis of spicule,prominent on middle of spicule and sometimes on head, becomingobsolescent in the other parts ; size -09 by -0079 millim, : echinatingthe skeleton-fibres. (4) Tricurvate acerate of sarcode, smooth, sharppointed; curves gentle ; size about '063 by -0015 millim, (5) Navicularequianchorate ; shaft slender, slightly curved ; length about•Jl27 millim.Hab. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 3-4 fms., bottom sand ;also same locality, probably from beach.Two specimens, agreeing closely in their characters, represent thespecies ; heights 70 and 85 millim. (24 and 3|- inches) respectively ;expanse of branches 30 and 20 millim. respectively. It agreesclosely in character of spiculation with C. ulmus, Vosmaer (JNTotesRoy, Mus. Netherl, ii. p. 151), of which the locality is not stated ;but the stem is single and not ramified as stated by Vosmaer, whodoes not mention the most striking external characteristic of thisspecies, viz. its strong aculeation by long pointed processes.of no other species which approaches it at all closely.I know75. Clathria tuberosa. (Plate XLII. fig, d.)Microciona tuberosa, Botverhank, P. Z. S. 1875, p. :?81.The specimens are finer than those in the Bowerbankian collection; the largest measures 70 millim. (2f inches) in greatest diameter,and 5U millim. (2 inches) in greatest height ; the individuallobes may measure as much as 14 millim. in greatest diameter.The "skeleton columns" {Bovjerhanh) are even more stronglyarenated than in the type specimen, and resemble those of a Dysidea,the projecting ends of the spined and fine smooth acuate being theonly point of difference which appears at first sight. The proportionsof the spicules differ slightly from those of the Malacca specimensas given by me (P. Z. S. 1881, p. 121 )*, viz. :—* The lenglli of the equianc-horate should have been stated there as 01 fimillirti., and the base of the slender smooth acuate described as slightly inflated.