ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGKS. ill 



not observed in any species that have come under 

 microscopic examination, and none so completely 

 (Edematous as represented by the figure referred 

 to. 



31. Limbata* With the fibres formed into lar- 

 ger and smaller circular pores, resembling 

 lace. 



Plate XV. fig. 2, 



This sponge is firm and elastic ; but the pores 

 formed by the anastomosing fibres, are consider- 

 ably large : it is whitish when divided, and its 

 lace-like appearance when examined by a lens^ 

 renders it a beautiful object : the pores or in- 

 terstices of the fibres are circular, and it frequent- 

 ly happens, that numerous small pores surround 

 a large one ; and in most cases the intervals be- 

 tween the larger, are filled up with smaller pores. 

 The fibres are smooth, and destitute of any fim- 

 briae or detached uncoi?inected parts. 



A small specimen, or fragment only, of this 

 elegant sponge, has once occurred surrounding 

 the smaller stalk of some fucus, 



€oast of Devon* 



