HOUGHTON ON THE TBANSLATION OF AEISTOTLE. 415 



dense internal structure, (2.) Because being mentioned with sponges 

 the meaning of the term airXvmaQ, " that which cannot be washed," 

 is a strong argument that some sponge, useless perhaps in a com- 

 mercial point of view, is indicated. It is absurd to suppose that the 

 black Aplysias can be represented by the white or cream coloured 

 Alcyonium digitatum, or that the Greek name should ever have been 

 given to any species of Alcyonium ; neither can the large pores attri- 

 buted to the Aplysias be supposed to indicate the small depressions 

 of the asteroid polype, thus so erroneously sought to be identified 

 with it.* 



I have only one more remark to notice. " When it is remem- 

 bered," we are told, " that the Alcyonium is endowed vdth motion 

 and sensation, Aristotle's discussion respecting the nature of the 

 sponge becomes intelligible." I do not see the force of this argu- 

 ment, because the " motion" attributed to the Alcyonitim must refer, 

 of course, to the movement of the Polypes within the cells, and not 

 to the entire mass, which is no more endowed with locomotion than 

 the sponge ; unless Aristotle had observed the Alcyonium in a vessel 

 of sea water or shallow rock pool, he could not have vdtnessed the 

 movements of the polypes here spoken of; and if he had seen the 

 curious spectacle he would have had no doubt of the animal nature of 

 the substance, and would probably have made some mention of the 

 interesting sight afforded. 



Aristotle's treatises on Natural History are to be understood 

 only after long and pains-taking research ; my object in publishing a 

 paper on the subject was, as I stated, to stir up in the minds of 

 Naturalists a desire to possess an English translation, (which, thanks 

 to Mr. Bohn and Mr. Cresswell, we now possess), the translation 

 and notes were expressly admitted to be provisional, and they, 

 with the " Remarks" in the last " Eeview," are a striking illustration 

 of the real difficulties a translator must experience who cautiously 

 and honestly sets about the work.f 



* " Aristotle distinguishes sponges under two heads, those that might be 

 cleaned and those which could not. Of the last, he states that their substance 

 was compact, but perforated by large canals. They were more viscous than other 

 sponges, and when dried remained black, llie description exactly apj^Ues to the 

 common coast line sponges of the Aegean, useless for economic purposes." — Lycia, 

 ii. p. 127. 



t I may state that the whole of this paper was written before I had seen either 

 Strack's or Kiilb's Gemiau translation, or the " Travels in Lycia " by Spratt and 

 Forbes. 



