Natural Hiftory 
CHA p. VII 
Of Sponges. 
HAT this Cla of marine Bodies is of an siti Nature, 
_ was an Opinion that prevailed fo early as in <i/fotle’s 
Time. For in his Aifforia Animalium, Book V. Chap. 16. 
-_ he tells us, “ Many People were of Opinion, that Sponges: 
‘“* were capable of Feeling, and that they would fhrink back, 
“‘ if any one attempted to pluck them up.” Ariftotle, 
however, rejected this Notion ; as did moft of his Followers: 
Though it feems not improbable, but that thofe, who firft 
broached it, had fome kind of Experience, as a Foundation 
for their Opinion ; fince, if the Sponges fhould be found to 
be the Habitation, the Fabric of Polypes, or Azimaleules of 
a particular Order, no doubt but the fudden Retreat of man 
thoufands of thefe together, into the Holes they refided in, 
upon the Approach of Danger, would give the Perfon, who 
was wrefting the whole Colony from its fixed Abode, a Senfe 
of a different Species of Refiftance, from that which a Sub- 
ftance, not animated, could be fuppofed to do. 
There are not many Kinds of Sponges on our own Coafts ; 
and thefe, for the moft part, are minute and tender. We 
feldom meet with them, till after they have been long fepa- 
rated from their Places where they grew; and of courfe the 
Organization greatly injured. So that, notwithftanding I 
have examined with the utmoft eention ‘moft of thofe 
that our own Coafts afford, and likewife a great Variety of 
different Species of Sponees with which the Cabinets of {e- 
-veral of my Acquaintance here are furnifhed, yet I own it 
is not in my Power to give fo acy an Account of the 
Structure. 
