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tuted as completely to perform the offices allotted to them in the rank 
which they hold in the scale of creation. 
This wonderful and close analogy also offers to our admiration a plain 
demonstration, not merely of the power and of the wisdom of our great 
Creator, but of the rich infinity of resources from which he has been 
enabled to diversify his works. But to return to the animal, the 
examination of which led to these reflections. It differs from the alcyonia 
already described, in having no particular cavity for the reception 
of the sea-water. We are, however, fully authorized in considering 
this and all the rest of this series not merely as sponges, since they 
possess, beside the spongy parts, a more complicated apparatus for 
procuring the reception and ejection of the sea-water, the vehicle ot 
their food. 
In this particular animal, an admirable contrivance appears to have 
been employed for the performance of this function. In the alcyonia 
already described it was remarked that, at their superior parts, an 
opening was always to be found, and from the sea-water received in 
this cavity bearing an analogy with the stomach of the more perfect 
animals, the necessary portion of nutriment was supposed to have been 
derived. But in this body no particular cavity seems to have existed : 
the sea-water imbibed by the spongy substance of which this animal 
body was composed, as most probably ejected by the contraction ot 
that body, aided by the additional compression derived from the 
contractions of those filaments, which we see pass thiough its substance 
and over its surface j and which, probably possessing the properties ot 
a muscle, would occasion a regular alternate contraction and dilatation 
of the cavities, by which a perpetual renewal of its matter of nourishment 
would be obtained. 
I am, unfortunately, unable to speak positively respecting the place . 
where this fossil was found ; I have, however, great reason to suppose it 
was obtained from some of the gravel-pits in this island. 
The fossil depicted Plate IX. Fig. 11 and Fig. 13, evidently belongs 
