OCR Text |
Show 1^6/.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON SPONGES. 515 fibres, with single or groups of spicules radiating from its outer surface. Spicules uniform, fusiform or needle-shaped. Ophistospongia, Bowerb. B. S. ii. p. 378. OPHISTOSPONGIA AUSTRALIS. Australian sponge, Bowerb. B. S. i. p. 275, t. 17. f. 288. See also- Ophistospongia papilla, Bowerb. B. S. ii. p. 378. Hab. Guernsey. 2. SERIATULA. Sponge massive. Skeleton of solid, cylindrical, horny, thick and slender fibres, with small imbedded spicules. Spicules smooth, of three forms-(1) broad needle-shaped, (2) pin-shaped, and (3) fusiform, slender, angularly bent. SERIATULA SERIATA. Spongia seriata, Grant. Chalina seriata, Bowerb. B. S. ii. p. 376, f. 287 (outer surface) ; O. Schmidt, Supp. ii. t. 167. 3. ECTYON. Sponge massive, reticulated, of cylindrical horny fibres, with single scattered or groups of diverging spicules. Spicules fusiform, verti-cillated, spined. 1. ECTYON SPARSUS. West-India sponge, Bowerb. B. S. i. p. 275, t. 17. f. 289. Spicules scattered, or in pairs or threes. Hab. West Indies. 2. ECTYON FASCICULARIS. West-India sponge, Bowerb. B. S. i. p. 276, t. 17. f. 290. Spicules grouped together in fascicules. Hab. West Indies. 3. ECTYON CARPENTERI. Halichondria ?, Carpenter, Microscope, p. 538, f. 267. Hab. Madagascar. See Diplodemia, Bowerb. B. S. f. 377; but it has armed ovisacs. 4. ACARNIA. Sponge parasitic, membranaceous, with erect and recumbent clavate spinose spicules. Spicules subcylindrical or subclavate; ends blunt, covered with spines. ACARNIA CLIFTONI. Hymeniacidon cliftoni, Bowerb. B. S. i. p. 276, f. 70, 83, 29L, Hab. Freemantle, West Australia (G. Clifton). |