[ *79 ] 
XV. An Account of fome very perfeft and 
uncommon Specimens of Spongia z from the 
Coafi of Italy ; In a Letter to James 
Weft, Ffquire , Prefdent of the Royal 
Society ; from John Strange, Ffquire , 
F. R. S. 
Dear Sir, 
Read March T_T A V 1 N G had frequent opportunities, 
22 , J 7/°- d ur i n g m y ftay in Italy, of vifiting 
the fea coafts, 1 was thereby encouraged, among 
other refearches after the antiquities and natural hif- 
tory of that country, to colled fome fpecimens of 
fubmarine productions. Upon examining the fouth- 
weft coaft of Italy in particular, I happened to meet 
with fome very perfedt and curious fpecimens of 
fpongia?, the deferiptions of which I now fend you. 
One of thefe (i) has never been deferibed before; 
and fince only fragments of the other two fpecimens 
have been delineated in the works of the authors 
who mention them ( 2 ), I have not fcrupled to add 
likewife their relpedtive deferiptions and figures. 
( 1) Piate VI. Fig. 3, 4. 
(2) lmpcrat. Stc.r. Nat. Lib. xxvn. Cap. 8. Fig. 7. Mar- 
figli Hift, Phyf. de la Mer. PI. 16. Fig. 79. 
A a 2 Thefe 
