HALICHONDRIA. 137 



surface ; loses its translucency ; and its fibrous part predomi- 

 nates, as the hard parts of other animals predominate progres- 

 sively from birth to decay." Grant. 



Dr Fleming has correctly remarked, that in substance this 

 sponge resembles Halichondria panicea, but it is denser and less 

 friable. It is undoubtedly the Spongia suherosa of Esper ; 

 and has no affinity with the Sp. Lycopodium of that author, as 

 Lamarck and Lamom'oux erroneously affirm. The latter is pro- 

 bably a variety of H. cervicornis. MuUer was the discoverer 

 of the species before us, and his description is as follows : 

 " Spongia pulchre flava, exsiccata alba evadit. Rami varie im- 

 plexi et confluentes, teretes passim compressi, inordinate crassi 

 et tenuiores vel fucos obvestiunt, vel libere crescunt. Fori abs- 

 que ordine passim conspicui, non prominuli. Substantia mol- 

 lis fragilis. An Spongia oculata auctorum ? obstat, quod nee 

 tenax sit, nee pori promineant." 



29. H. vraGULTOSA, erect, forming an undivided roundish 

 or slightly compressed branch of a hard compact medullary 

 texture ; pores invisible ; fecal orifices scattered, level ; spi- 

 cula linear icith sharp ends. 



Plate XV. Fig. 1-3. 



Spongia virgultosa, Lam. Anim. s. Vert. ii. S75. 2de edit. ii. 5G5. 

 Lamour. Cor. Flex. 66. Corall. 177. Parkins. Oryctol. 44. 



Hah. Coast at Scarborough, Mr Bean. 



I have seen fragments only of this species from the collection 

 of Mr Bean. These are simple rod-like branches, from 6 to 

 12 inches in length, about half an inch in diameter, or of the 

 size of the little finger, somewhat compressed, more or less 

 twisted, of a very compact pithy structure, and incompressible 

 when dry : the surface smooth to the naked eye, but rugose 



