^' of Sponges. 7^ 



Structure and Ufes of the feveral Parts of this Clafs of Bo- 

 dies, as would be fatisfadory: And, indeed, this can fcarcely 

 be expelled from any, but thofe wh,o liv^e near the Places 

 where the Sponges are found, and who have Leifure and 

 Abilities to confider them while recent. 



If we carefully examine a fmall Part of one of thofe 

 Sponges, whofe Ramifications are large and diftindl, in 

 the Microfcope, we find that they rife from many fmall 

 Tubes ; thefe, as they extend themfelves upwards, fend out 

 Side-branches in various Directions, which inofculate, and, 

 uniting thus with each other, form a compound Reticulation 

 quite through the Infide of the whole Mafs. In viewing the 

 Extremities of the upper or lafi: Shoots, we perceive fmall 

 Openings at the End of their Fibres ; and as we trace thefe 

 Fibres back from the Opening downwards, we fee a foft 

 whitifh Subftance, which fills the internal hollow Part of all 

 the Ramifications, through the whole Sponge ; which Ra- 

 mifications have much the Appearance of tranfparent Cat- 

 gut of an Amber-colour ; and, doubtlefs, are the Lodgments 

 of Animals of a particular Clafs. For, though we cannot 

 diftinguifh either Veficles, or Cells ; or difcover any other kind 

 of Organization, than that of a hollow Tube varioufly infleft- 

 ed, and wrought together into a Multitude of agreeable Forms ; 

 fome branched like Corals ; fome expanded like a Fungus ; 

 fome rifing up firait like a Column ; others broad at Top, 

 a narrow Bafe, and hollowed like a Funnel, with regular Ca- 

 vities, Entrances, or Apertures, winch are nearly alike in 

 all Sponges of tlie fame Species : Yet, from many obvious Re- 

 femblances to divers other Clafles of Sea-nroduftions, which 

 are found to be of animal Confl:ru6\ion, and from the che- 

 mical Analyfis of Sponges in general, there feems fjfficicnt 

 Reafon to induce us to give them a Place here with the reft ; 



though 



