ae of SponcsEs, 
 Strugture and Ufes of the feveral Parts of this Clals of Bo. 
- dies, as would be fatisfaftory: And, indeed, this can {carcely 
_ be expected from any, but thofe who live near the Places 
where the Sponges are found, and who have Leifure and 
_ Abilities to confider them while recent. 
ae ‘we carefully examine a fmall Part of one of thofe 
Sponges, whofe Ramifications are large and diftin@, in 
the Microfcope, we find that they rife from many {mall 
Tubes; thefe, as they extend themfelves upwards, fend out 
_ Side-branches in various Diretions, which inofculate, and, 
_ uniting thus with each other, form a compound Reticulation 
. quite through the Infide of the whole Mafs. In viewing the 
; _ Extremities of the upper or laft Shoots, we perceive {mall 
Openings at the End of their Fibres; and as we trace thefe 
_ Fibres back from the Opening downwards, we fee a foft 
_ whitifh Subftance, which fills the internal hollow Part of all 
the Ramifications, through the whole Sponge; which Ra- 
mifications have much the Appearance of tranfparent Cat- 
gut of an Amber-colour ; and, doubtlefs, are the Lodgments 
of Animals of a particular Clafs. For, though we cannot 
 diftinguifh either Veficles, or Cells; or difcover any other kind 
of Organization, than that of a hollow Tube varioufly infle@- 
ed, and wrought together into a Multitude of agreeable Forms; 
fome branched like Corals; fome expanded like a Fungus ; 
- fome rifing up firait like a Column; others broad at ‘Yop, 
fee} 
Vities, Entrances, or Apertures, which are nearly alike in 
_allSponges of the fame Species: Yet, from many obvious Re- 
 femblances to divers other Clafies of Sea-productions,. which 
are found. to be of animal Conftru@ion, and from the che- 
sical. Analyfis of Sponges in general, there feems fufficient 
 Reafon.to induce us to give them a Place here with the reft; 
_ anarrow Bafe, and hollowed like a Funnel, with regular Ca- 
19 
though, os 
