AIS’D PHTSIOLO&T OF THE SPONGIAD^. 
797 
tion on these subjects, and Avith briefly referring to the few actual observations that 
appear to have been made by naturalists. 
Maesigli, at the beginning of the 18th century, stated that he had seen contraction 
and dilatation in the oscula of several sponges just removed from the sea. 
After Maesigli, Ellis (Ellis and Solajvdee), Natural History of Zoophytes, pp. 184, 
186, and 187 (see also Zool. Journ. pp. 375, 376), enunciated similar opinions founded 
on his own observations on the action of the oscula and their currents ; but neither of 
those authors was aware of the true mode of the entrance of the water into the sponge, 
a much more difiicult problem to solve than its exit through the oscula. 
Cavolint in his researches, although made on sponges recently taken from the sea, 
failed in seeing the action of the oscula as Ellis had done, and he accordingly disputed 
the truth of those opinions. At a later period. Colonel Montagu, although actually 
examining sponges in the places of their growth, arrived at similar conclusions to those 
of Cavolini, and, like that author, he believed them to be animals of a very torpid nature. 
Montagu’s reasoning to prove the animality of sponges is for the most part sound and 
excellent ; he says, “ Whether motion has ever been discovered or not in any species of 
sponge is not, I conceive, of so much importance as some naturalists would appear to 
consider. Those who are solicitous in their inquiries after the animals which they have 
supposed to construct the vesicular fabric of sponges, and have expressed their surprise 
that this in age of cultivated science no one should have discovered them, must have 
taken a very limited view of matter possessing vitality, and have grounded their hypo- 
thesis only upon supposed analogy.” He also observes, “ The true character of Spongia 
is that of a living, gelatinous flesh supported by innumerable cartilaginous or corneous 
fibres or spicula, most commonly ramified or reticulated, and furnished more or less with 
external pores or small mouths which absorb the water, and which is conveyed by an 
infinity of minute channels or capillary tubes through every part of the body, and is 
there decomposed and the oxygen absorbed as its principal nourishment, similar to the 
decomposition of air in the pulmonary organs of what are called perfect animals.” — Wer- 
nerian Memoirs, vol. ii. pp. 74, 75. 
Lamoueoux’s conclusions regarding the nature of sponges are so thoroughly vague and 
supposititious as scarcely to require notice. 
Lamaeck has placed the Spongiadse in a higher position than any naturalist who had 
preceded him, giving them precedence of the sertularian and celliferous Corallines, and 
even of the Corallidee ; but I cannot concur with him to the full extent of his conclu- 
sions, which, like those of most previous writers, were derived to a much greater extent 
from comparative reasoning than from actual observation of the animals in a living and 
natural condition. 
Professor Schweiggee’s opinions are very much more those of a practical naturalist, 
and it is evident that he had closely observed them in a living condition ; but he too 
shares the erroneous opinion of his predecessors, that the oscula were the organs of 
imbibition, and that no water entered through the dermal surface. Professor Bell, in 
5 Q 2 
