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

SPONGIIDA, 607colour, and its cylindrical spicule is curved and apparently stouterthan that of this species,26. Reniera, sens, lat., allied to crateriformis, Carter.(Plate LIV. fig. i.)Some small dark-brown fragments of a species belonging to thegroup Crassa (lienieridae), Carter, to which the preceding species isrelated, and which is probably connected with Schmidtia. Thespicules arc smooth, slightly curved, subcylindrical, tapering somewhatto the well-rounded ends ; size '48 by •028 millim. Arrangementof skeleton as in Schmidtia, viz. massive fibre forming roundedmeshes (except near the surface). Species of this character areespecially abundant in the Malay Archipelago, whence B. crateriformisis obtained. Not knowing the external form of the sponge,I content myself with indicating the occurrence of this well-markedgroup in this region.Hab. Providence Island, Mascarene group, 19 fms.27. Pellina, sp.I have httlc doubt of the identity with the species from Australia,described at p. 413 (No. 48) of Part I. of this Eoport, of an erect,laterally compressed, suboblong specimen in spirit in this collection,45 millim. high, 30 millim. in greatest diameter, 14 millim. ingreatest thickness. It is squarely truncate above and diminishesslightly in diameter towards the broken lower end ; the surface israther uneven, but the dermal membrane is smooth, thin, and transparent.Vents chiefly at the margin ; round or suborbicular, deep,diameter 1-5 millim. Spicules -33 to '35 by '019 millim. Othercharacters essentially as in Australian specimen, from which it differschiefly in wanting the short lobes.Hab. Darros Island, Amirante group, 22 fms.28. Tedania digitata, Schmidt.For synonyms and distribution see this <strong>Report</strong>, Part I. p. 417,A fine specimen from Mozambique, very different in externalcharacters from those described by me from Australia and Hindostan.In this case the vents are strongly developed, and the mass consistsof four superiorly distinct, more or less bullate tubes, with thin,smooth margins, 3-9 millim. in diameter at their mouths, arising outof a very irregularly shaped, massive, suberect base, the surface ofmost of which is broken up into closely-set pits and grooves, about1-5 miUim. in diameter, which are the external openings of theexcretory canals of this solid part of the sponge. The colour ispale, rather reddish, brown. The acuate measures '19 by •0095millim,, the tibiella -19 by -005 millim. While the outward form israther that of Mediterranean specimens, the proportions of thespicules agree more closely with examples from Kurrachee andQueensland than with Mediterranean or Port-Darwin specimens.The spicules of a small in crusting fragment from the Amirante