ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGES. 



95 



tubes of nearly an inch in length, which have an 

 opening at the apex ; these tubes are distant, and 

 not disposed in regular order, nor of any deter- 

 minate size ; but on the same specimen may be 

 observed tubes from the eighth of an inch up- 

 wards, in all gradations, to the length before men- 

 tioned. In drying, the tubes become compressed 

 and a little arcuated, and all incline the same way ; 

 they are flexible, tough, and the texture extreme- 

 ly fine. The spicules that support the fleshy part, 

 appear to be the base or continuation of the tubes ; 

 perhaps these are ligaments, and may contribute 

 to give some small action to the tubes, by inclin- 

 ing them to either side, or by expansion and con- 

 traction. When first separated from the rocks, 

 the asbestine-like spiculae are not so obvious as 

 when the flesh is contracted by drying. In its ge- 

 neral appearance, this sponge bears some resem- 

 blance to Lichen flliformis. 



The only specimen was taken by dredging, and 

 is an inch and a half in length. 



,20. L(^vigata, Soft, compressible, and elastic ; 

 texture extremely fine and reticulated. 

 Plate XV i. fig. 4. 



This is the most delicate of all the soft British 

 sponges ; when compared with either oculata or 

 dkhotoma, their texture is extremely coarse ; by 

 the naked eye, the surface appears nearly smooth^^ 

 or finely frosted ; when examined with the double 



