SPONGILLA. 149 



3. SPONGILLA, Lamarck. 



Spongiee pars, Lin. Si/st. 1299 Tupha, Oken in Schweig. 



Handb. 421 Epbydatia, Lamour. Cor. Flex. 2. Gray, Brit. 



PI. i, 353 Spongilla, Lam. Anim. s. Vert, ii, 98: 2de edit. 



ii. 111. Blainv. Man. 533, and 683. Schweig. Handb. 421. 



Badiaga, Buxbaum in Spreiig. Si/st. Veg. iv, 374 Ha- 



lichondriae pars, Fleji. Brit. Anim. 524. 



Character. Spomje homologous, polymorplious, latticed 

 and imperfectly cellular, the cells bounded by unequal Jibres 

 composed of siliceous spicula laid in a translucid gelatine ; 

 interstices filled ivith an organic granuliferous mucus ; spi- 

 cula acicular, simple ; pores and oscula ill defined : oviform 

 capsules or sphcerulce are generated at certain seasons in the 

 cells. — Colour a shade of green. — Lacustrine or fluviatile. 



The Spongilla, says Dr Grant, " is a fresh-water production, 

 of a green or grey colour, soft, fibrous, reticulate, friable tex- 

 ture, irregular flat spreading foiin, and strong foetid odour ; it 

 contains a turbid green-coloui-ed gelatinous-like matter in its in- 

 terstices, and erect branched fibres pass through its inteinor, 

 arising from its base, and projecting from its surface." 



The fibres consist of minute siliceous spicula laid usually in 

 parallel fascicles and held together by the organic gelatine. 



