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

—SPONGIIDA. 457each end ; size -19 by -0079 to -25 by -0095 millim. (3) Echinatingspined cylindrical ; base with slight globular inflation ; taperinggradually to blunt distal end ; spines short (the longest about •0016millim. long), thorn-like, sharp, shortest at apex, those of distalhalf more or less recurvate towards base, distributed equally overwhole of spicule; size of spicule '095 to '106 by '01 millim, (apexof spicule about '005 millim. thick).Hub. Thursday Island, Torres Straits, 4-5 fms. ; bottom sand.A single dry specimen, 70 millim. (2| inches) high by GO millim.(2f inches) in greatest width. The arborescent growth distinguishesit at once from the turbinate E. bilamellatnm, vasiplicatum^and costiferum, and the palmate, branched E. nervosum^ mihi(Lamarck), the only species hitherto recognized ; in fibre-structure itclosely resembles E. hilconellutian, although the spicules are somewhatsmaller. The much smaller smooth acuate and accrate distinguishesit from E. laciniatum and jii/hei.Echinodictyum glomeratum, var. subglobosum.Two dry specimens, consisting of an obsolescent stem, rising atonce into a globular clathrous or honeycombed head, formed byrapid branching at subacute angles and free anastomosis ; thebranches appear to end bluntly on the surface in rough points, atabout the same level (this, however, is perhaps partly due to abrasionon the shore). Texture rigid, harsh ; colour pale brown inmacerated, dark purplish in non-macerated specimen. Sjucules :(1) Long setaceous acuate, with well-rounded head, tapering to sharppoint; size about 2-0 by -00127 millim. : apparently echinating thebases of the primary fibres. (2) Smooth acerate of fibre, slightlycurved, tapering gradually to sharp points ; size "25 by -0085 millim,to '33 by -0127 millim. (3) Spined echinating cylindrical, withslightly indicated head and apex almost coming to a point ; spinesnumerous, fine, sharp, straight at middle, recurvate at distal end ofspicule; size '106 to -IG by "OOSS to -0095 millim. Skeleton-fibresstout, compact, almost straight, sometimes with yellow transparentmargins ; secondary fibres given off at right, or more usually acute,angles from primaries.Hub. Torres Straits, 5-10 fms, ; bottom sand and coral.A well-marked variety. The outward form and the almost pointedspined spicule distinguish this froni the typical form. One specimenmeasures 40 millim., the other 75 millim. (3 inches) in bothgreatest height and diameter.86. Echinodictyum cancellatum. (Plate XL. fig. D ;Plate XLII, fig. q.)? Spongia caucellata, Lamarck, Ann. Mas. Mist. Nat. xx. p, 456,The short description of Lamarck agrees so closely, so far as itgoes, with the external character of this sponge, that in default ofinformation as to the minute characters of the old species, I assign