IfltO Sponges. 



gibbose ; concave now and then, and with large, irregul» 

 openings, as if large branches were anastomosed ; circum- 

 ference branched or lobed, very jagged, sinus obtuse, lobe» 

 elongated obtuse, truncate or flat, unequally divided. The 

 substance is entirely of a cinereous white, outside and inside, 

 of a soft and brittle nature, rather friable ; covered outside 

 with minute pores of an oblong or round shape, and full of 

 small unequal cells inside. 



2. Spongia ostracina, Raf. (Oyster sponge.) Very 

 branched, erect, red, papillose ; branches unequal, often 

 dichotome, obtuse ; cells porose, oblong, nearly equal. 



It is often found on the common oyster. (Ostrea virginica.) 

 It rises from four to six inches, the colour is a fine red, it 

 branches from the base ; the branches are unequal, straight, 

 cylindrical, or compressed. Substance stupose. Surface 

 covered with small papilla and small oblong unequal pores. 



3. Spongia cespiiosa, Raf. (Bushy sponge.) Branched, 

 cespitose, yellowish, rough, papillose ; branches fasciculated, 

 upright, unequal, flexuose, compressed, slightly anastomosed, 

 nearly dichotome upwards ; cells porose, oblong, nearly equal, 

 margin lacerated. 



Found also on the oyster, but more seldom than the fore- 

 going ; the specimens which I saw was found on the Bluepoint 

 oysters, by Dr. Eddy. It becomes brown by drying. It rises 

 from four to six inches, the margin of the cells or pores is 

 torn into papillar, stiff processes, which produce a rough sur- 

 face. Substance stripose. Internal cells oblong, very small. 



4. Spongia cladonia. (Cladonian sponge.) Branched effuse, 

 smooth, pale fulvous, stem procumbent, branches distichal, 

 one-sided, erect, simple er divided, obtuse ; cells porose, 

 minute ; some larger round. 



I have found this species at Bath and at Sandy-Hook, on 

 sandy bottoms. Length about six inches. Stem and branches 

 cylindrical or compressed. Substance fibrose, anastomed, 

 branches divaricate, ascendent, semi dichotomose or simple, 

 unequal, thicker towards the top.' 



6. Spongia virgata. (Slender sponge.) Nearly branched, 

 amooth, fulvous, stem divided, slender, cylindrical, kndbby, 



