§5.16Τὸν αὐτὸν δὲ τρόπον γίνονται τοῖς ὀστρακοδέρμοις καὶ τὰ μὴ ἔχοντα ὄστρακα, οἷον αἵ τε κνῖδαι καὶ οἱ σπόγγοι ἐν ταῖς σήραγξι τῶν πετρῶν.
In the same manner, as with the testaceans, also those that have no shells, such as sea-anemones and sponges, are generated in the cavities of the rocks.
Ἔστι δὲ τῶν κνιδῶν δύο γένη· αἱ μὲν οὖν ἐν τοῖς κοίλοις οὐκ ἀπολύονται τῶν πετρῶν, αἱ δ’ ἐπὶ τοῖς λείοις καὶ πλαταμώδεσιν ἀπολυόμεναι μεταχωροῦσιν.
Of the anemones there are two kinds: some in the hollows do not detach themselves from the rocks, while others on smooth and flat surfaces detach themselves and move away.
Καὶ αἱ λεπάδες δὲ ἀπολύονται καὶ μεταχωροῦσιν.
Limpets also detach themselves and move away.
Τῶν δὲ σπόγγων ἐν ταῖς θαλάμαις γίνονται πιννοφύλακες.
In the chambers of sponges, pinnophylaces are generated.
Ἔπεστι δ’ οἷον ἀράχνιον ἐπὶ τῶν θαλαμῶν, ὃ διοίγοντες καὶ συνάγοντες θηρεύουσι τὰ ἰχθύδια τὰ μικρά, πρὸς μὲν τὸ εἰσελθεῖν διοίγοντες αὐτά, ὅταν δ’ εἰσέλθῃ, συνάγοντες.
And there is a kind of spider-web-like structure over the chambers, by opening and closing which they prey on small fish, opening them for entry, and closing them when they have entered.
Ἔστι δὲ τῶν σπόγγων τρία γένη, ὁ μὲν μανός, ὁ δὲ πυκνός, τρίτος δ’ ὃν καλοῦσιν Ἀχίλλειον λεπτότατος καὶ πυκνότατος καὶ ἰσχυρότατος· ὃν ὑπὸ τὰ κράνη καὶ τὰς κνημῖδας ὑποτιθέασι καὶ ἧττον ἡ πληγὴ ψοφεῖ.
There are three kinds of sponges: the loose, the dense, and a third which they call Achilleum, which is the finest, densest, and strongest; this they place under helmets and greaves so that the blow makes less noise.
Σπανιώτατος δὲ γίνεται οὗτος.
This kind is the rarest.
Τῶν δὲ πυκνῶν οἱ σκληροὶ σφόδρα καὶ τραχεῖς τράγοι καλοῦνται.
Of the dense ones, those that are very hard and rough are called goats.
Φύονται δ’ ἢ πρὸς πέτρᾳ πάντες ἢ ἐν ταῖς θισί, τρέφονται δ’ ἐν τῇ ἰλύϊ.
They all grow either against a rock or on sandy shores, and they feed in the mud.
Σημεῖον δέ· ὅταν γὰρ ληφθῶσι, φαίνονται μεστοὶ ἰλύος· ὅπερ συμβαίνει καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις τοῖς φυομένοις ἀπὸ τῆς προσφύσεως οὖσα ἡ τροφή.
A proof of this is that when they are taken, they are found full of mud; which is also the case with other things that grow from an attachment, since their nourishment comes from it.
Ἀσθενέστεροι δ’ εἰσὶν οἱ πυκνοὶ τῶν μανῶν διὰ τὸ τὴν πρόσφυσιν εἶναι κατ’ ἔλαττον.
The dense sponges are weaker than the loose ones because their attachment is smaller.
Ἔχει δὲ καὶ αἴσθησιν, ὡς φασίν. Σημεῖον δέ·
They also have sensation, as they say.
ἐὰν γὰρ μέλλοντος ἀποσπᾶν αἴσθηται, συνάγει ἑαυτὸν καὶ χαλεπὸν ἀφελεῖν ἐστίν.
A proof of this is that if a sponge senses someone is about to pull it away, it contracts itself and is difficult to remove.
Ταὐτὸ δὲ τοῦτο ποιεῖ καὶ ὅταν ᾖ πνεῦμα πολὺ καὶ κλύδων, πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἀποπίπτειν.
It does this same thing also when there is a strong wind and surge, in order not to fall off.
Εἰσὶ δέ τινες οἳ περὶ τούτου ἀμφισβητοῦσιν, ὥσπερ οἱ ἐν Τορώνῃ.
But there are some who dispute this, such as those in Torone.
Τρέφει δ’ ἐν ἑαυτῷ ζῷα, ἕλμινθάς τε καὶ ἕτερ’ ἄττα, ἃ ὅταν ἀποσπασθῇ, τὰ ἰχθύδια τὰ πετραῖα κατεσθίει, καὶ τὰς ῥίζας τὰς ὑπολοίπους· ἐὰν δ’ ἀπορραγῇ, φύεται πάλιν ἐκ τοῦ καταλοίπου καὶ ἀναπληροῦται.
It nourishes in itself animals, both worms and some other things, which, when the sponge is pulled away, the rock-fish devour, along with the remaining roots; and if it is torn off, it grows again from the remnant and is restored.
Μέγιστοι μὲν οὖν γίγνονται οἱ μανοί, καὶ πλεῖστοι περὶ τὴν Λυκίαν, μαλακώτατοι δ’ οἱ πυκνοί· οἱ γὰρ Ἀχίλλειοι στιφρότεροι τούτων εἰσίν.
Now the loose sponges become the largest, and are most numerous around Lycia, while the dense ones are the softest; for the Achilleum are tighter than these.
Ὅλως δ’ οἱ ἐν τοῖς βαθέσι καὶ εὐδιεινοῖς μαλακώτατοί εἰσιν· τὸ γὰρ πνεῦμα καὶ ὁ χειμὼν σκληρύνει, καθάπερ καὶ τἆλλα τὰ φυόμενα, καὶ ἀφαιρεῖται τὴν αὔξησιν· διὸ καὶ οἱ ἐν Ἐλλησπόντῳ τραχεῖς εἰσὶ καὶ πυκνοί, καὶ ὅλως οἵ τ’ ἐπέκεινα Μαλέας καὶ οἱ ἐντὸς διαφέρουσι μαλακότητι καὶ σκληρότητι.
Generally, those in deep and calm waters are the softest; for wind and winter storm harden them, just as they do other growing things, and take away their growth; which is why those in the Hellespont are rough and dense, and generally those beyond Malea and those within differ in softness and hardness.
Δεῖ δὲ μηδ’ ἀλέαν εἶναι σφόδρα· σήπεται γάρ, ὥσπερ τὰ φυόμενα.
And there must not be too much heat; for they rot, just as growing things do.
Διὸ οἱ πρὸς ταῖς ἀκταῖς εἰσὶ κάλλιστοι, ἂν ὦσιν ἀγχιβαθεῖς· εὖ γὰρ κέκρανται πρὸς ἄμφω διὰ τὸ βάθος.
Therefore, those near the shores are the best, if they are in deep-edged waters; for they are well-tempered in both respects on account of the depth.
Ἄπλυτοι δ’ ὄντες καὶ ζῶντες ἰδεῖν μέν εἰσι μέλανες.
When unwashed and alive, they are black to look at.
Ἡ δὲ πρόσφυσίς ἐστιν οὔτε καθ’ ἓν οὔτε κατὰ πᾶν· μεταξὺ γάρ εἰσι πόροι κενοί.
Their attachment is neither at a single point nor all over; for there are empty pores between.
Περιτέταται δ’ ὥσπερ ὑμὴν περὶ τὰ κάτω· κατὰ πλείω δ’ ἐστὶν ἡ πρόσφυσις.
A membrane-like tissue is stretched around the bottom; and the attachment is at several points.
Ἄνωθεν δ’ οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι πόροι συγκεκλεισμένοι, φανεροὶ δ’ εἰσὶ τέτταρες ἢ πέντε· διό φασιν ἔνιοι τούτους εἶναι καθ’ οὓς δέχεται τὴν τροφήν.
From above, the other pores are closed, but four or five are visible; wherefore some say that through these it receives its nourishment.
Ἔστι δ’ ἄλλο γένος ὃ καλοῦσιν ἀπλυσίας διὰ τὸ μὴ δύνασθαι πλύνεσθαι· τοῦτο δὲ τοὺς μὲν μεγάλους πόρους ἔχει, τὸ δ’ ἄλλο πυκνόν ἐστι πᾶν· διατμηθὲν δὲ πυκνότερόν ἐστι καὶ γλισχρότερον τοῦ σπόγγου, καὶ τὸ σύνολον πλευμονῶδες.
There is another kind which they call aplysiae because it cannot be washed; this has large pores, but the rest of it is entirely dense; and when cut through, it is denser and more viscous than the sponge, and altogether lung-like.
Ὁμολογεῖται δὲ μάλιστα παρὰ πάντων τοῦτο τὸ γένος αἴσθησιν ἔχειν καὶ πολυχρόνιον εἶναι.
It is especially agreed by all that this kind has sensation and is long-lived.
Διάδηλοι δ’ εἰσὶν ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ πρὸς τοὺς σπόγγους τῷ τοὺς σπόγγους μὲν εἶναι λευκοὺς ἐφιζούσης τῆς ἰλύος, τούτους δ’ ἀεὶ μέλανας.
They are clearly distinguished in the sea from sponges, because sponges are white when mud settles on them, while these are always black.
Τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ τοὺς σπόγγους καὶ τὴν τῶν ὀστρακοδέρμων γένεσιν τοῦτον ἔχει τὸν τρόπον.
Now, what concerns sponges and the generation of testaceans is in this manner.