The Natural Hiflory of Jamaica. 62 
Samer 
textura laxa ciavinnata, cylinari cavi fignra, lignicala circumnafcens. Plakenct. 
Alm. p. 3562 Phyt. tab. 322. fir. 3? : 
From a Foot Diamercr’d; large, broad, ‘roundiih Root, fpread over tha 
Corals or Stones, in the bottom of the Sea, rife many Foot and a half 
long, hollow, round, subulous, blackifh Bodies or Vipes, each whereof is 
about an Inch Diameter, the hollow or cavity in its tniddle being half an 
Inch over. The other or fibrous part round ir, is made up of many flrong 
Filaments or Fibers, interwoven one within another, having fometimes 
large vacuities between. Tlhcfe Fibers are of a yellowifh Colour, asd 
have a mucilaginous blackith coloured filhy Matter lyiag between them, 
of which when clear'd, their reticulated contexture looks very pleafantly. 
The hollow in the’ middle has ufually init that kitd of loufe or cru- 
{taccous Animal, fticking to ‘the Gills of Fil in thelé Seas, and between 
them very often, the fimall Stella marina minor radiis echinatis of which 
more hereafter. : a 
This is frequent on the Shoals off of Point Peficaz near the Coral Rocks, 
growing in fomewhat deeper Water, crc. from whence pieces of it ard free 
quently. caft afhore. : 
There is great variety in this, being very often much’ lirger, and ‘fome- 
times {maller than that here defcribed. Very often parts, either of the Root 
or Branches, are driven afhore, and there; accotdifig to the time they have 
lain, put on feveral Faces and Colours, by the wafhing away of its mitcila- 
ginous Body. ‘They fometimes are branchéd,’and at otlter cites appear 
in various fhapés hike Gloves or Aarts Hortts, from whetce Clu/fas gives 
the fame feveral names, and ftom him Cafpar Banhine was led into the tame 
error, | 
XXXVHL Spongia dura feu [puria ramofa altiffima, Cat. p. 7. Tub.r3. Fig. 
315) An Spongia Americana longiforma funiculo fimilis Plum Tournefort, Inf. 
P§70F ( . Bie ese: 2 ae 
This appeared to be much the fame withthe former; only it was {maller, 
higher, more branehéd, harder’ atid noc hollow, ending ina point, theout- 
ward fide having very often in forme places on it a flony ot woody yellowith 
Matter. : bi, lh Bae | 
It is tobe found amongft the Coral Rocks with the former. 
XXXIX. Spongia dura feu fpwria, fuperficie apicibus acutis extantibus afpers, 
intus cavernofa. Cat p.7. Tab.r3. Fig. 4. 
This came very near the texture of Sponges, being harder then they, fome- 
times as large as ones Fift, for the moft part flat, broad, and compreifed, having 
within it feveral cavities, larger than to be able to receive ones Thumb, 
roundifh, and of feveral Figures, befides innumerable {maller round holes, 
through every part of it, the Colour of it was whiter than that of Sponge, 
and on its Surface were feveral fharp pointed afpericies larger than Pins 
Heads ftanding on it, of the fame Colour and Subftance as its (elf, and noc 
hollow. 
It is frequently caft up on the Shorc, with other Exerements of the 
XL. Spongia minor & mollior medulla panis fimilis, fibris teaniffimis. Cat. 
p.7- Tab. 23. Fig. 5. 
This in its texture came near that of a Sponge, only ic was muclr finer 
and lighter, being roundifh and branched, not fo big as ones Finger, being 
{maller in fome places, and larger in others, where were Lubercles, with 
round 
