ra PHYLUM AND CLASS PORIFERA 115 



sum, we find that they differ in the number of branches, in the 

 shape of the cylinders, some being relatively narrow, some 

 relatively wide in the degree of development of the oscular crown 

 of spicules, in the ratio of the thickness of the wall to the width 

 of the contained paragastric cavities, and in many other more 

 minute points ; in fact, we find as a result of the comparison that no 

 two specimens are exactly alike. These differences are so great 

 that some very distinct races or varieties of S. gelatinosum have 

 been recognised, and some have received special names. Here 

 again, as in the case of the families and orders, the distinctions 

 are of an arbitrary character some writers on Sponges setting 

 down as several species what others regard merely as varieties of 

 one species. It is impossible, in fact, to draw a hard and fast line 

 of distinction between species and varieties. In the higher groups 

 of animals the attempt is made to establish a physiological dis- 

 tinction ; all the members of a species are regarded as being fertile 

 inter se, and capable of producing fertile offspring as a result of 

 their union ; but such a mode of distinguishing species is impos- 

 sible of application among lower forms such as the sponges. In 

 these lower groups, accordingly, a species can only be defined as 

 an assemblage of individuals which so closely resemble one another 

 that they might be supposed to be the offspring of a parent- 

 form similar to themselves in all the most essential features. 

 And, according to the view taken of the relative importance of 

 different points of colour, shape, and internal structure, the con- 

 ceptions of the species and their varieties and mutual relationships 

 formed by different observers must often differ widely from one 

 another. 



. 3. GENEEAL OEGANISATION. 



General Form and Mode of Growth. The simplest Sponges 

 are vase-shaped or cylindrical in form, either branched or un- 

 branched ; and, if branched, with or without anastomosis or 

 coalescence between neighbouring branches. But the general 

 form of the less simple Sponges diverges widely from that of such 

 a branching cylinder as is presented by Sycon gelatinosum 

 (Fig. 79). 



From the point to which the embryonic sponge becomes 

 attached it may spread out horizontally, following the irregulari- 

 ties of the surface on which it grows, and forming a more or less 

 closely adherent encrustation like that of an encrusting lichen 

 (Fig. 85, .4). The surface of such an encrustation may be smooth ; 

 more commonly it is raised up into elevations rounded bosses, 

 cones, ridges or lamellae ; and the edges may be. entire or lobed. 

 In other cases the sponge grows at first more actively in the 

 vertical than in the horizontal direction, and the result may be a 

 long, narrow structure, cylindrical or compressed, and more or less 



i 2 



