134 BRITISH SPONGES: 



Plate XIV. Fig. 3. 



Spongia sanguinea, Grant in Edin. New Phil. Journ. ii. 135 and 



203, pi. 2, fig. 9. 

 Halichondria sanguinea, Flem. Brit. Anim. 521. 

 Halispongia sanguinea, JBlainv. Actinol. 532, pi. 94, fig. 9. 



Hub. On the imder surface of the sea-beaten rocks of Islay, 

 Staifa, lona, and, along with the Sp. nivea, at the entrance of 

 the spar caves on the shores of Skye, Grant. Torbay, Dr 

 Coldstream. Dublin Bay, Lambay Island, W. TTiompson, Esq. 

 Brighton, A. H. Hassal. Holy Island, near the Coves, sparing- 

 ly, G. J. 



This renaarkable species forms an undefined crust from one- 

 eighth to half-an-inch in thickness, of a imifoma deep-red co- 

 lour, becoming bright oi'ange-red when dried, of a close compact 

 texture, being composed of innumerable crystalline spicula in- 

 terwoven in a gelatinous membrane, inelastic, with a soft fleshy 

 feel when wet ; the surface even, minutely pitted or rugose, with 

 small circular scattered fecal orifices, which scarcely rise above 

 its plane. 



" It spreads on the imder surface of rocks to the extent some- 

 times of six inches in diameter, with a thickness of more than 

 half-an-inch, and it has always the same deep-red colour. The 

 general surface is flat ; but, on minute examination, it is found 

 to be covered with numerous small round elevations and depres- 

 sions, and the fecal orifices, which are numerous and small, are 

 always observed in the depressed parts. The pores are very 

 minute, and appear like perforations made by needles of difi"erent 

 sizes. This species feels very slimy when torn, and abounds 

 nearly as much with parenchymatous matter as the Spongia pa- 

 nicea, to which it has a close affinity in its general form and ha- 

 bits. Its spicula are siliceous, rather long, curved, equally thick 

 throughout, obtuse at one end and pointed at the other." Grant. 



H. sanguinea occasionally occurs in amorphous masses of con- 

 4 



