ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGES. 



113 



a lodgenient. The fleshy, or gelatinous substance 

 which fills the interstices of the ligamentous fibres 

 of every sponge, has not, that I am aware of, 

 been detected in this species ; from whence we 

 reasonably infer, that it comes from the deep, and 

 that, though it may by some accident be removed 

 from its natural fixed abode, it is not ejected till 

 it has lost much of its specific gravity by the de* 

 composition of the fleshy parts, which, from ana- 

 logy, we may conclude, are readily perishable. 

 The inosculations of the fibres, are extremely vari- 

 able, and form very irregular reticulations. Be- 

 sides these uniting fibres, it is thickly interspersed 

 with more minute unconnected branches, arising; 

 from the sides and angles of the anastomosing 

 fibres. 



This sponge, which is by no means uncommon 

 on the western coasts of England, especially those 

 of Dorset and Devon, I do not find described as. 

 a native ; but as it agrees in many particulars, 

 with lichenoides of Pallas, may it not be that spe- 

 cies ? It must, however, be remarked, that fruti- 

 vosa has a strong animal odour in combustion, 

 whereas we are told, lichenoides has a vegetable 

 odour* 



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