With reasonable accuracy, they lived up to their nicknames of basket sponges, chalice sponges, distaff sponges, elkhorn sponges, lion's paws, peacock's tails, and Neptune's gloves-- designations bestowed on them by fishermen, more poetically inclined than scientists.
Esas formas justificaban con bastante exactitud esos nombres de canastillas, cálices, ruecas, asta de ciervo, pata de león, cola de pavo real, guante de Neptuno, que les han atribuido los pescadores, más poéticos que los sabios.