ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGES. 115 



iibres fimbriated. Sometimes in larger masses at 

 the base of Sertularia antenniiia, and other vesi- 

 cular corallines. 

 Not uncommon* 



35. Fava, Irregular, extremely porous, rather 

 hard and brittle, appearing like a piece of 

 old worm-eaten cork. 



This sponge, though harsh to the feel, yields to 

 the pressure of the finger-nail without elasticity : 

 when recent, is orange-yellow, and full of gela- 

 tinous flesh, but when exposed for a time on the 

 shore, and the fleshy parts decayed and washed 

 out, the pores are observed to be roufidish. When 

 examined by a lens^ has a slight resemblance to a 

 honey-comb ; the pores, however, are not regular 

 in size. If taken fresh, and artificially dried, the 

 pores are greatly obscured by the contracted 

 gluten, and the colour becomes of a dark brown. 

 If it has undergone a natural decomposition of 

 the more perishable parts on the sea-shore, by the 

 conjoined action of the water and the air, the pores 

 are cleared, and it retains a light yellowish colour. 

 A specimen in this state before me, is flat and 

 broad; round the edges, (which appear to have 

 been broken,) there are many large round open- 

 ings, intersecting the smaller pores, and communi- 

 cating with those on the flat surfaces. This piece 

 is three inches long, two broad, and about half an 

 inch thick. 



Coast of Devon ; not common. 



H % 



