592 



THE CLIONA SULPHUREA. 



Class II. CAKNEOSPOITGI^E. Most of the forms embraced here have the skeleton frame- 

 work made up of horny or silicious spicules. Three orders embrace the Sponges of this class. 



The III. Order, KERATOIDEA, includes the commercial Sponges ; those having a horny 

 framework. 



Sub-order Spongince. The genus Spongia embrace all the Sponges that are utilized in 



commerce. Six species are 

 at present recognized, with 

 varieties. 



Three of the species are 

 found in the Mediterranean 

 and Red Sea, and three are 

 native to Bahamas and the 

 Florida Reef. 



The Sponges of our coast 

 are of the coarser kinds, yet 

 of great practical value in the 

 arts and household affairs. 



It is an interesting fact 

 that parties in the American 

 localities have succeeded in 

 raising Sponges from cut- 

 tings. This is done, of course, 

 under the sea surface, as the 

 moment the Sponge is re- 

 moved from water it dies. 

 The broad areas of lagoon on 

 the Florida Reef will furnish 

 profitable returns of this new 

 product. 



The well known ' ' Dead 

 Man's Finger" (CTialinula 

 oculata), found frequently 

 after storms on our beaches 

 along the Atlantic coast, is 

 of another order, called 

 KEROTO-SILICOIDEA, on ac- 

 count of the union of the 

 two kinds of spicules. 



One of the sub-orders of 

 this group embraces the spe- 

 cies Microciona prolifera, 

 abundant on pools at Cape 

 Cod. Its color is a bright 

 orange, and in this form, 

 the sea, it will 



GLASS SPONGE. ffoltenia earpenteri. (Natural size.) 



fresh from 

 be remembered by many a visitor to the sea-shore after heavy gales. 



Another sub-order embraces the familiar Crumb- of -Bread Sponge (HalicJwndria panicea}. 

 Another, Suberites compacta, is common on the south side of Cape Cod. 



Some boring forms, small, but very destructive to shell-fish, are common on our shores. 

 Cliona sulphured is one notable species. No satisfactory explanation is yet forthcoming of 

 its boring character. Another sub-order embraces the fresh-water Sponges. Two families, 

 embracing ten species, represent the group at present. 



It is said that the peculiar " cucumber odor," so called, is derived from the decay of these 

 fresh-water Sponges. 



