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

;;456 COLLECTIONS FEOM MELANESIA,numerous, low, sharp, those of distal half recurvate towards basesize of spicule -1 to -14 by -0079 millirn.Hah. Port Molle, Queensland, from coral-reef.Both in its external form and in the structure of its fibre thisspecies much resembles E. hiJameUatum ; the form, however, is lessdefinite here, and the presence of the fine acuate effectually distinguishesthis species. Its turbinate form separates it from E. pyhei andlaciniatiim, and its rough outer and inner surface from E. vasiplicatum,although it agrees with these three in possessing the fineacuate spicule.The dry specimen which represents it is not completely turbinate,but forms about three fifths of an open cup, not stipitate, atany rate in its present condition. There is little doubt that whenfully grown it would be turbinate, as E. hihimeUatnm shows tracesof an originally non-cup-shaped condition (and ef. varieties ofPhacellia ventilabrum). The height is 50 millim. (2 inches), theextreme breadth of the cup 70 millim. (2| inches).85. EcMnodictyuin glomeratum. (Plate XL. fig. A ;Plate XLII. fig. p.)Erect, stipitate ; base spreading ; stem short, branching frequentlyat acute angles and in an arborescent manner. Branchesangular, more or less flattened, showing strong tendency to unite bytheir edges, forming a dense head, from which the rounded ends ofthe branches project to a short distance ; maximum diameter ofprimary bi'anches 7 to 10 millim., of terminal twigs 3 to 6 miJlim.Surface (in present dry state) even, but honeycombed by the spacesbetween the superficial skeleton-fibres ; these bear small inconspicuoussharp points, '25 to 1"0 millim. high, at intervals of about1-5 millim. Vents ? Texture in dry state harsh to touch, hard,incompressible, and almost inflexible ; colour probably dull pjirplein natu.ral state.Main skeleton composed of compact spiculo-fibre ; no horny matterapparent outside the spicules ; spicules about 10- to 12-serial ; arrangementnon-rectangular, the meshes rounded, and the primary andsecondary fibres not traceable as distinct fibres beyond one or twoconsecutive junction-nodes ; meshes -28 to "5 millim. in greatestwidth ; both primary and secondary fibres echiuated at right anglesby an abundance of the echinating spicule. Dermal skeleton composedof fibre similar in structure to that of skeleton, but rangingfrom 5 to about 20 spicules broad ; meshes rounded, from '25 toabout '7 millim. in width, echinated in same way as the primariesthe fibre composing the projecting vertical lines is similar in constitutionto that of the main skeleton. Sarcode pale yellow, transparentor purplish brown, subopaque.Spicules: — (1) Long setaceous acerate, sparse, echinating;smooth, tapering to sharp points ; size about 2*0 by '0127 millim.(2) Skeleton acerate smooth, slightly but rather suddenly bent in%\\G middle, tapering to sharp points from about two diameters from