ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGES. 117 



Orbicular. 



S8. Verrucosa. Globose, and externally verrucose ; 

 internally fasciculate, with rigid asbestine 

 radiating fibres. 



Alcyonium lyncurium. Lin. Syst. p. 1295 ? — GmeL 

 p. 3812? 



Alcyonium aurantium. Pallas, Zooph. p. 357 ? 

 Plate xiiifig. 4, 5. 



It has long been a matter of doubt, whether 

 some of the present Alcyonia, without evident, 

 stellate pores, and composed internally of asbes- 

 tine spiculae, do not in reality belong to the 

 genus Spongia, Mr Ellis was favourable to thi§ 

 opinion. Not having the means at present of com- 

 paring all the figures given by different authors 

 for the several orbicular species of supposed Al- 

 cyo7iium, it is with considerable doubt that I have 

 referred to lyncurium for Spongia verrucosay here- 

 after described. Miiller has given an orbicular 

 species which he calls Alcyonium cranium, ZooL 

 Dan, in, tab. 85., and has referred to the Linnean 

 lyncurium. If this is truly the Linnean species, 

 it is not in the least like what is here described ; 

 though it is probably a Spongia. Miiller has also 

 figured what he considers the Linnean Alcyonium 

 cydonium, Zool. Dan. iii. tab. 81. ; but this is clear- 

 ly an Alcyonium, bearing innumerable polypi ; 



