132 BRITISH SPONGES: 



The only specimen I have seen, and from which our figure is 

 derived, is in the rich collection of its discoverer. It forms a 

 rude, cellular, brown mass, half-an inch in thickness, adhering 

 to its site by a thin membranous basis and hirsute with greyish 

 hairs, formed by the spicula projecting beyond the surface. 

 These spicula are very long, straight or somewhat flexuose, 

 and shaped like a needle. It is their great length and the cir- 

 cumstance of their protruding beyond the surface, which cha- 

 racterize the species. 



24. H. ? CoNUS, " with numerous short Jlattish divarica- 

 tions issuing from the sides J'^ 



Spongia Conus, Montagu in Wern. Mem. ii. 85, pi. 10. Flem. 



Brit. An. 326. 

 Tupha conica, Graij, Brit. PI. i. 356- 



Hab. " Coast of Devon, rare," Montagu, 



" The divarications ai'e irregular in size, shape, and situation, 

 but they are usually compressed, short, and broadest at the end ; 

 these sometimes originate from an irregular stalk, giving a little 

 resemblance to an expanded fir cone : the texture is rather 

 coarse, and the outside furnished with spicula or short bristle^. 

 When dry it becomes stiff and rather hard, owing to the large 

 quantity of gelatinous flesh which is obvious amongst the fibres. 

 Colour, when dry, of a dark yellowish brown." Montagu. 



25. H. ? RiGiDA, " with obtuse, spreading, irregular, Jlat- 

 tish divaricatio7is, arisi7ig from the same base ; usually a 

 short stalk." 



Spongia rigida, Montagu in Wern. Mem. ii. 87, pi. 11. fig. 1, 2. 



Flem. Br. Anim. 526. 

 Tupha rigida, Gra)/, Br. PI. i. 356. 



Hab. Coast of Devon, rare, Montagu. 



" This sponge is as coarse in texture as Spongia officinalis, 

 and when fresh, is of an orange colour, which it partly retains 

 if tolerably freed from the animal gluten : the divarications are 



