Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. 20S 



29. Notice of two new species of' British Sponges. — When on 

 the west coast of the island of Islay, in the summer of 1825, I 

 observed, at low water, many small pools, in the gneiss and 

 mica-slate cliffs near Portnahaven, completely lined with mille- 

 pores, from whose elevated lobes large specimens of the Coral- 

 lina officinalis^ and tufts of the delicate Corallina rubens, shot 

 up their jointed branches. On the lower part of the rocks, I 

 found some dwarfish specimens of the Sertularia pumila, and 

 Alcyoniurn gelatinosum, clinging to the leaves of the Fucus ser-^ 

 ratus and vesiculosus, and, along with some flustrae, adhering 

 to the cuplike portions of the Fucus loreus ; the deeper parts 

 between the precipices waved with lofty forests of the Fucus pah 

 matus. At the bottom of the cliffs, which are excavated into 

 fearful caves, and long narrow coves, by the action of an ever 

 tempestuous sea, I perceived, amidst a rich display of marine 

 vegetation, numerous specimens of the Spongia papillaris^ 

 and of the Spongia tomentosa, which appears to be only a 

 variety of the same -species. My attention was attracted at 

 this place by a substance of a deep blood red colour, about 

 two inches in diameter, and spread as a thin layer on the un- 

 der surface of one of the rocks. From its dangerous situation, 

 I could only obtain some particles of it, sufficient, however, to 

 show that it was a species of sponge hitherto unknown to me. 

 This summer (1826) I met again with the same blood red spe- 

 cies on the shores of lona, and abundantly on Staffa ; and on 

 landing at ebb-tide at the entrance of the spar cave (Macalister''s 

 Cave) in Skye, I found it in large patches on the under surface 

 of the slaty projections, on the left side of the cove, which leads 

 up to these magnificent subterranean vaults. I have represented 

 the form of its spicuium magnified fifty times, (PI. II. fig. 9.) ; 

 and as the concurrent opinion of my friend Dr Fleming leaves 

 no doubt in my mind of its being a new species, I have termed 

 it Spongia sanguinea, from its very striking blood-red colour 

 in the living state. It spreads on the under surface of rocks to 

 the extent sometimes of six inches in diameter, with a thickness 

 of more than half an inch, and it has always the same deep red 

 colour. The general surface is flat ; but, on minute examination, 

 it is found to be covered with numerous small round elevations and 

 depressions, and the fecal orifices, which are numerous and small, 



