ACCOUNT OF BRITISH SPONGES. HQ 



39. Pilosa, Globous, fleshy, covered with short 

 thick-set hair : internally, fasciculate with 

 rigid asbestine fibres, radiating from the 

 centre. 



Plate xiii. fig. 1, 2. 



This is another of the solid orbicular sponges 

 which may possibly have been confounded with 

 Alcyonium lyncuiium, or cydonium ; indeed I 

 cannot be certain it is not the latter divest- 

 ed of its tomentose covering, when, by the as- 

 sistance of a lens, a truly spongy surface is ob- 

 servable. In this imperfect state, it might con* 

 form to Huhrotundum spongiosum flavum Ictve ; but 

 I dare not venture on synonyma. The discord- 

 ances of zoophytists are so great, and the syn- 

 onymes so numerous, that it is utterly impossible to 

 make out the species ; and we are constrained to 

 form new species, where characters do not accord. 

 This is nearly allied to the preceding Spongia ver- 

 rucosa, which in some degree may be likened to 

 Alcyonium lyncurium, because it is verrucose. The 

 present subject, Spongia pilosa, was taken by Mr 

 Fleming in Zetland, who favoured me with a spe- 

 cimen. I shall therefore only give a description 

 of it, and if any thing should be omitted in its 

 usual characters, it is to be hoped, that, we shall 

 receive from that naturalist any additional infor- 

 mation. 



The specimen of Spongia pilosa before me, has 

 the pilosity removed from one side, shewing the 



H 4 



