SPONGIA. 



81 



Purified, it becomes flaxen and of a looser texture. The orifice of the 

 great channels which traverse it are edged with rough and bristly hairs. 

 The Brown Barbary Sponge, called the Marseileise, when first taken 

 out of the water, presents itself as an elongated flattened body, gela- 

 tinous, round in shape, and charged with blackish mud. It is then hard, 

 heavy, coarse, but compact, and of a reddish colour. By a simple wash- 

 ing in water it becomes round, still remaining heavy and reddish. It 

 presents many gaps, the intervals of which are occupied by a sinuous and 



(From Dr. Grant.) 



Fig. 11. Spongia oculata, showing the orifices and currents outwards. 2. Anastomosing horny sub- 

 stance of Spongia communis. 3. Siliceous spiculum of S. papillaris. 4. Of S. cineria. 5. S. panicea. 

 6. Calcareous spiculum of S. compressa. 1, Transverse section of a canal of S. papillaris, showing the 

 structure of the ova passing along the canal. 8. Ovum of S. panicea seen laterally the cilia? anterior. 

 9. The same seen on the end, with a circle produced by the ciliary action. 10. Young Spongia papillaris. 



tenacious network. It is valuable for domestic use, because of the 

 facility with which it absorbs water, and its great strength. 



Other sorts of sponges are very abundant. The Blonde Sponge of 

 the Archipelago, often confounded with the Venetian; the Hard 

 Barbary Sponge, called Gelina, which only comes by accident into 

 France; the Salonica Sponge is of middling quality; finally, the 

 Bahama Sponge, from the Antilles, is wanting in flexibility and a little 

 hard, and so is sold at a low price, having few useful properties to re- 

 commend it. 



