EE VIEWS. 217 
was a genuine Dracunculus. It is said, moreover, that he paid four guineas 
for the specimen.” 
Ere terminating our notice of this work, we must pay our highest tribute 
of praise to the enterprising publishers, who have issued a volume which, as 
concerns its mechanical features — type, paper, illustrations, &c., — reflects 
the highest credit upon those connected with its production. Of its value 
as an addition to science-literature we have abeady spoken. In conclusion, 
however, we would observe that it is a treatise which every naturalist must 
possess, and without which no medical man’s library can be considered 
complete. 
BEITISH SPONGES.-'- 
W E had begun to fear that the Eay Society would in future devote 
itself to the production of essays on the animals of distant countries. 
We had almost anticipated seeing some ponderous volumes upon the zoology of 
the Sahara and the flora of the Punjaub ; but we are glad to perceive that our 
fears were groundless. This useful institution has again returned to its proper 
field, and has given us a most excellent treatise upon the sponges of Great 
Britain. When we state that this volume has been written for the society 
by Dr. Bowerbank, naturalists will readily admit that few could have been 
selected more worthy of the task than the gentleman who has spent, we may 
say, a lifetime in the investigation of our native Porifera. 
The book which has just been issued constitutes only one volume of the 
entbe work ; but since it deals with the anatomy and physiology of the 
sponge, it is, of course, of paramount importance. The subject has been very 
carefully handled by the author, and the result is the production of a mass 
of information which can only be had elsewhere after a prolonged examination 
of the English and Continental periodicals of the past fifteen years. A 
sponge may be said to consist of a mass of sarcode, supported upon a network 
or skeleton of a more solid substance, and having two classes of apertures in 
its external surface, which communicate with as many distinct varieties 
of canals. The skeleton is in some instances composed of an interlacement 
of fibres, which are made up of some organic material ; in others it is con- 
stituted of hard, unyielding prickles or spicules, as they are technically 
termed. These spicules are so arranged upon one another, that while sup- 
porting the sarcode mass they leave several anastomosing spaces which form 
the canals ; and finally they may be either calcareous or siliceous in compo- 
sition. These characters of the spicules determine the division of the sponge 
class into three orders — the Keratosa (horny ?), Silicea (flinty), and Calcarea 
(limey). This arrangement is in some measure a modification of Professor 
Grant’s, and though no doubt a very convenient one, is to our mind objection- 
able because somewhat artificial. This objection, however, will not prove 
a Monograph of the British Spongiadae.” By J. S. Bowerbank, 
LL.D., E.E.S., F.L.S. Vol. I. London ; Published for the Eay Society by 
E. Hardwicke. 1864. 
