126 A MONOGRAPH OF THE AUSTRALIAN SPONGES, 



Our knowledge of the species of sponges was greatly increased 

 by Pallas (21). He describes 28 species of sponges, as belonging 

 to the genus Spongia, and there are also some sponges in his genus 

 Alcyonium. He accepts Ellis's discoveries as correct, and places 

 the sponges — doubtless animals — under the Zoophyta, genus 

 Spongia. " Animal ambiguum crescens, torpidissimum. Stirps 

 polymorpha, e fibris contexta, gelatina viva obvestitis. Oscula 

 oscillantia (?) seu cavernse cellulaeve superficiei." 



In the twelfth edition of Linne's (22) Systema Naturae, the 

 sponges are for the first time described as animals. 



Several species of sponges are described by authors of this period 

 without advancing our knowledge of the Anatomy and Physiology 

 at all. 



After Ellis's death, Solander set to work to publish the papers 

 of Ellis, but he also died over the work, which was then taken in 

 hand by Ellis's daughter. In this book (23), Ellis's and Solander's 

 disco vei'ies are united to a whole. It contains a lot of valuable 

 information. 



Alcyonium and Spongia which have hitherto been considered 

 very nearly related, or even to be the same, are strictly separated. 



The genus Spongia is denned in the following manner : "Animal, 

 fixum, flexile, polymorphum, torpidissimiun, contextum vel e fibris 

 reticulatis, vel e spinulis, gelatina viva vestitis ; osculis seu 

 foraminibus superficiei aquam respirans." 



Esper (24) and Olivi (25), who devoted much time and trouble 

 to the sponges, did not render so much service to our Science as 

 their English contempoi-aries. 



(21). P. S. Pallas. Elenchus Zoophytorum. Hagae Comit., 1766. 



(22). Carl von Linne. Systema Naturae. Ed. XII. Vol. 1, 2. Holmiae, 

 1767. 



(23). T. Ellis and D. Solander. Natural History of many curious and 

 uncommon Zoophytes. London, 1786. 



(24). Esper. Die Pjlanzenthiere and I ortselzung der Pfla?izenthiere. 

 Nurenberg, 1791— 1S06. 



(25). L. Olivi. Zooiogia Adriatica. Bassana, 1792. 



