Art. XI. Descriptions of species of Sponges observed on the shores of Long-Island.

Art. XI. Descriptions of species of Sponges observed on the shores of Long-Island. By C. S. Rafinesque, Esq.

The sponges are one of the most singular productions of nature; and, even to this time, naturalists are divided in opinion respecting their real rank in the scale of organized beings. Some believe that they are animals, belonging to the class of polyps, next to the genus of alcyonium, while many contend that they are not animals, but plants, of the tribe of fuci, or marine vegetables. I am inclined to adopt this latter opinion, since in all those which I have seen, in Europe and America, no perceptible motion nor sensibility was to be discerned in any stage of their existence; and those who have acknowledged their animality, bring no stronger proof thereof than an occasional slight shrinking under the hand, and an animal smell, which are common to some marine plants.

Whatever be the truth on the subject, these doubtful opinions prove that they are of the many connecting links between animals and plants. This is not a proper place to decide this controversy; I mean merely to make known new species of this tribe of beings, which I observed last year, on the shores of Long-Island. Such a fragment will be, perhaps, the first attempt of the kind; when more species shall be known, the subject may be investigated with more certainty and accuracy.

1. Spongia albescens, Raf. (Whitish sponge.) Effuse, compressed, irregular, perforated, somewhat branched, unequally lobed, whitish, smooth; lobes truncated; cells porose, very minute, nearly equal; small unequal cells inside.

Found near Bath and Gravesend, in sandy bottoms. A large species, sometimes over a foot broad, of quite an irregular shape, rather flattened, about one inch thick; partly gibbose; concave now and then, and with large, irregular openings, as if large branches were anastomosed; circumference branched or lobed, very jagged, sinus obtuse, lobes elongated obtuse, truncate or flat, unequally divided. The substance is entirely of a cinereous white, outside and inside, of a soft and brittle nature, rather friable; covered outside with minute pores of an oblong or round shape, and full of small unequal cells inside.

2. Spongia ostracina, Raf. (Oyster sponge.) Very branched, erect, red, papillose; branches unequal, often dichotome, obtuse; cells porose, oblong, nearly equal.

It is often found on the common oyster. (Ostrea virginica.) It rises from four to six inches, the colour is a fine red, it branches from the base; the branches are unequal, straight, cylindrical, or compressed. Substance stupose. Surface covered with small papilla and small oblong unequal pores.

3. Spongia cespitosa, Raf. (Bushy sponge.) Branched, cespitose, yellowish, rough, papillose; branches fasciculated, upright, unequal, flexuose, compressed, slightly anastomosed, nearly dichotome upwards; cells porose, oblong, nearly equal, margin lacerated.

Found also on the oyster, but more seldom than the foregoing; the specimens which I saw was found on the Bluepoint oysters, by Dr. Eddy. It becomes brown by drying. It rises from four to six inches, the margin of the cells or pores is torn into papillar, stiff processes, which produce a rough surface. Substance stripose. Internal cells oblong, very small.

4. Spongia cladonia. (Cladonian sponge.) Branched effuse, smooth, pale fulvous, stem procumbent, branches distichal, one-sided, erect, simple or divided, obtuse; cells porose, minute; some larger round.

I have found this species at Bath and at Sandy-Hook, on Sandy bottoms. Length about six inches. Stem and branches cylindrical or compressed. Substance fibrose, anastomed, branches divaricate, ascendent, semi dichotomose or simple, unequal, thicker towards the top.

5. Spongia virgata. (Slender sponge.) Nearly branched, smooth, fulvous, stem divided, slender, cylindrical, knobby, branches erect, slender, nearly heads acute; pores unequal, irregular, small.

A small species, three inches high, found at Oysterbay, on rocky bottoms, rare; stem with few branches, and imperfect ones, like knobs. Substance stupose. Branches round, alternate, small. Pores without any determinate shape.