OF THE NATURE OF SPONGES. 2/ 



kingdoms, " for Nature," as Aristotle says in more than 

 one place, " passes continuously from things without life 

 to animals through things which live yet are not animals, 

 so as that they appear to differ very little one from 

 another when viewed in connection. The sponge, both in 

 that it lives only when attached, and when separated can- 

 not live, is quite on the same footing as the plants ; but 

 what are called Holothm'ia and Pneumones and other si- 

 milar productions in the sea, differ a little from sponges in 

 that they are detached, yet they have no sensation, but live 

 like plants detached. And there are such among land 

 plants ; some which live and grow on other plants, and 

 some entirely unattached, as that from Parnassus, wliich 

 some call epipetron, for this lives a long time hung up upon 

 pegs."* 



Pliny's account of sponges is entirely borrowed from Aris- 

 totle, and he also puts them among those productions " that 

 have a third or middle nature, and are neither living crea- 

 tures nor yet plants." In a subsequent chapter, however, 

 wherein is eniunerated at length their various economical 

 and medicinal applications, he has apparently forgotten their 

 " middle nature," and declares that he had before proved the 

 sponges to have life, " yea and a sensible life," " for their 

 is found of their bloud settled within them." And as it 

 were to strengthen this opinion he adds^" Some writers 

 report that they have the sense of hearing, which directs 

 them to draw in their bodies at any sound or noise made, 

 and therewith to squize out plenty of water which they con- 



Aristot. de Part. Animal. 1. iv- p. 95. I am indebted to the Rev. 

 Thomas Riddell of Trinity College, Cambridge, for this account of Aris- 

 totle's knowledge and opinions on sponges. The passages quoted are 

 translated from Bekker's edition. Berlin, 18'29. 



