96 



ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGES. 



lens of a megalascope, the surface is found to be 

 minutely and elegantly reticulated, and of a cot- 

 tony softness, but the fibres are infinitely finer than 

 common cotton. Perhaps the texture in fineness 

 would be more aptly compared to the interior 

 spongy part of some species of puff-ball (Lyco- 

 perdon.) 



The only small piece of this sponge that has 

 come under observation, is tubular throughout ; 

 whether this is its natural habit, or the conse- 

 quence of being a parasitical species that sur- 

 rounds the stalks of fuci, or other marine plants, 

 has not been discovered ; but it is observable, that 

 the central fibres radiate to the circumference ; 

 the summit, however, is rounded and perfect, like 

 the finish of an independent species. 



Imperfect as the specimen is from which this 

 description is taken, it is distinct from any I am 

 acquainted with, and therefore cannot be omitted* 

 Till its habit is better known, it has been thought 

 proper to place it amongst the tubular sponges. 



21. Jnanas. Ovate, rugous, tubular, the sum- 

 mit crowned with spines surrounding the 

 aperture. 



Plate xvl fig. 1, 2. 



This elegant minute sponge, is nearly allied to 

 coronota,h\xt is very different in shape and texture ; 

 the surface is not covered with spiculae as in that 

 species, but is apparently vesicular or scaly, and 



