64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



exception, one of the most accessible haunts of attractive 

 zoological specimens to be found on the Victorian coast. 



I propose, therefore, in a series of short papers, to consider, in 

 their zoological order, three or four groups which are well re- 

 presented in the marine fauna of this particular locality. And as a 

 mere list of names will be of little interest or value, I hope to 

 describe what may be regarded as typical examples of these 

 predominating groups, and show, as far as space will permit, the 

 relationship of the members of such groups, and the principles 

 upon which the classifications are made. 



We commence with the Phylum Porifera or Sponges, the reef 

 furnishing examples illustrating the principal sub-classes of this 

 group. Attached to the under surface of the loose stones or 

 safely moored to firmer support between the loose boulders ; 

 forming a delicate and, in some cases, gorgeous covering to the 

 rock or a disguise to a tiny crab ; growing, plantlike, amongst the 

 delicate sea-grass or upon more vigorous sea-weeds, sponges meet 

 us everywhere. They interest us because of their varying sizes, 

 some being so small as to be almost microscopic in size, others so 

 large that we have a difficulty in enclosing them with both hands. 

 They attract attention on account of their variety in colour, some 

 being of deep purple whilst others are of golden hue ; some 

 escape notice amongst the seaweed because of their delicate 

 green colour, whilst others are white as driven snow. They 

 excite curiosity because of their diversity of form, some of the 

 smallest being perched on a stalk, the body of the sponge being 

 shaped like a small pine-apple, whilst others stand up from the 

 stones to which they are fixed like miniature columns or chimney- 

 pots ; others again are compact and fan-like in shape, whilst 

 others present delicate finger-like processes to view. They 

 surprise us also because of differences in texture, some being as 

 soft as velvet, whilst others are as hard as wood. 



Such diversity in size and colour, form and texture, prompt the 

 question, Are they animals or plants ? 



This same question was asked of Aristotle more than 2,000 years 

 ago, and from his answer we may conclude that he was practically 

 convinced that they were animals. It was not, however, till the 

 end of the last century that English naturalists had any definite 

 theory to put forth on the subject. In 1762 Mr. Ellis, a London 

 merchant, classed them as animals from his observations on the 

 circulation of water through them, and a very early edition of the 

 "Encyclopedia Britannica," 1797, which contains a reference to 

 his work, describes them as a "genus of animals belonging to the 

 class Vermes and order of Zoophytes." It is, however, only in 

 comparatively recent times, and after the most patient labour 

 and exact methods of microscopical study that their true place in 

 nature, as belonging to the great division in the animal kingdom, 



