GRANTIA. 177 



Soc. ii. 271. Bellamy's South Devon, 269. Thompson in Ann. 

 Nat. Hist. V. 254. 

 La Calceponge cilee, Blainv. Actinolog. 531. 



Hab. Parasitical on the lesser Fuci and Confervae, especial- 

 ly on the Delesserise and Ceramia. In the harbour of Ems- 

 worth, Ellis. " Not uncommon on many parts of the British 

 coast ; I have found it in the most southern extremity, and have 

 been favoured with it from Zetland by Mr Fleming," Montagu. 

 Isle of Man, Edw. Forbes. From the number of specimens 

 sent me by Mr Wm. Thompson of Belfast, and Mr M^Culla, 

 from various localities, I conclude it to be conmion on the Irish 

 coast. 



Sponge hollow, cylindrical or ovate or elliptical, often curv- 

 ed and narrowed at the base, rough and hirsute with the pro- 

 jecting spicula, compact and unporous ; the vent terminal, ge- 

 nerally constricted, and encircled with a fence of long asbestine, 

 usually connivent, spicula. It varies from a line to fully two 

 inches in height. " The surface is closely covered with linear- 

 pointed spicula, having a terminal direction ; in the substance 

 of the sponge, besides these Unear, there are other triradiated 

 spicula. The internal surface is full of irregularly-shaped 

 pores." Fleming. " It should be remarked, that the specific 

 character of being ' surroimded at top by a crown of spines,' is 

 rarely identified ; but the spicula that cover all other parts, 

 form a lasting character. It is generally of a yellowish colour, 

 sometimes of a shining silvery white ; and this we may conceive 

 is its true colour, could all adventitious matter be removed." 

 Montagu, 



This species, in general so well-marked, is occasionally as 

 deceptive as any of its congeners. In the normal state, the 

 sponge is elliptical, white, with a granular or muricated villous 

 surface and a narrow ciliated vent, (Woodcut, Fig. 1 ) ; but in 

 the very large variety, from the coast of the Isle of Man, (Plate 



