f 



78 ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGES. 



SPONGIA BRITANNICA. 



In order to facilitate the arrangement of the 

 species, I have divided them into the following 

 families : 



\, Branched; those vi^hich are properly branch- 

 ed, simple or compound. 



2. Digitated ; those which are divided into 



lobes or leaves, on their side3 or on the sum- 

 mit. 



3. Tubular ; such as shoot into tubular processes, 



whether simple or compound. 



4. Compact; such as are destitute of any divi- 



sions, and are of a compact form, but of inde- 

 finite shape, whether of an open or a solid 

 texture. 



5. Orbicular; such as are globose, with internal, 



radiating, asbestine spiculse. 



^ Branched. 



1 . Oculata. Much branched, soft, the branches 

 roundish and obtuse, furnished with mar- 

 ginal pores. 



Plate vi. fig. 2. 



Spongia oculata. Ellis, Coral, p. 80. t. 32. fig. F. f.— 

 Id. Zooph. p. 390.— Gwie/. p. 3820. 



In all the specimens I have examined, some of 

 the branches originate from the base, but have a 



