SPONGES. 273 



French upon the coasts of France and Algeria, 

 though nothing of the sort has yet been attempted 

 by them. It is imported at Liverpool from Turkey 

 under the name of Turkey sponge, together with the 

 West Indian, or Bahamia sponge (Spongia usta], a 

 distinct species. The latter arrives in Liverpool 

 from the Bahama Islands. The average importation 

 to this seaport is about 135 cases per annum, each 

 case containing about 500 sponges of various sizes, 

 of which the average value is about 35s. per 

 pound. 



These two kinds of sponges form an important 

 branch of commerce. The most prized for toilet 

 purposes are the Syrian sponges. They are gene- 

 rally conical in shape, or sometimes hemispherical ; 

 the orifices of their internal canals are very small ; 

 they are hollow in the centre like a goblet, and 

 their exterior possesses the softness of the finest 

 velvet. I have seen some of these beautiful sponges 

 selling in the Palais Royal, at Paris, for as much as 

 200 francs (8) a piece. They were about five 

 inches in diameter. Others, much smaller, were 

 put up for sale at 50, 60, and 70 francs. 



Besides the two species just named, there exist 

 a number of others, some of which are common 

 on our coasts, and astonish us by the beauty 

 of their organization. The small parasitical 

 sponges that cover the stalks of sea- weeds, or the 



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