232 SPONGIA OFFICINALIS. 



Class XIII.— ZOOPHYTA. 



Aquatic animals of a plant-like form, generally com- 

 pound, and fixed by their base; mouth surrounded by 

 a circle of tentacula or cilia, for attracting and seizing 

 their prey ; digestive organs consisting of numerous small 

 superficial sacs, termed polypi ; no distinct organs of 

 sense, nor trace of a nervous, muscular, or circulating, 

 system ; body for the most part supported by an axis 

 or skeleton, composed of cartilaginous, horny, calcareous 

 or silicious substance. 



SPONGIA OFFICINALIS, 



Officinal Sponge. 

 Pl. XXX. fig. 3. 



Order Carnosa. Family Spongiad/e. 



Gen. Char. Polypiferous mass fixed, soft, gelatinous, 

 tenacious, very flexible ; the cartilagi?wus matter sup- 

 ported by calcareous or siliceous spicula ; pores very 

 numerous, irregular. 



SrEC. Char. Sessile, subturbinated, rounded, slightly 

 convex above, soft, tenacious, with wide pores ; fora- 

 mina large. 



Spongia officinalis ; Lin.? Spongia communis, Lamar. Hist. Nat. des Anim. sans 



Verteb. ii. p. 353. 

 Sponge commune, Fft ; Spugna, It.; Esponga, Sp. ; Der Saugeschwa?nm f Ger. ; 



liodiaga, Russ.; Isfunge, Arab. 



The common Sponge is universally known from its utility in 

 various domestic purpose?. Tt is a soft, light, very porous, elastic, 



