THE GLASS-SPONGES. 541 



much lowlier creature, fingerless, and for that matter organless, up- 

 rears these fairy structures. However, the fact is indisputable. There 

 they are, incased in glass, and beyond the possibility of deliverance. 

 Were these little folks communicative, and not so crabbed, one might 

 ask if they acted out the moral of the adage about people who live in 

 glass houses. There is little doubt that this imprisonment is volun- 

 tary. We think these crabs are true commensals. Whether welcome 

 or not, they always eat at the Euplectella's table. Lest we should 

 seem to be muddling the work of the systematists, we would be under- 

 stood metaphorically, when stating our positive conviction that these 

 crabs are sponges from their very birth. 



A new glass-sponge, obtained from the island of Santa Cruz, W. I., 

 is described by Prof. Joseph Leidy, in the American Naturalist for 

 March, 1870. Some description of it had already been given else- 

 where. Its form is seen in Fig. 4. It will be remembered that the 

 glass-rope sponge had one fascicle or bundle of glass threads. This 

 sponge has at least twenty of these bundles, each about two inches 

 long. These also are of silicious threads, and have the appearance of 

 "tufts of blond human hair." It would not be strange should a lady 

 naturalist liken them to skeins of cmV-color zephyr worsted ; for, 

 queer as this may seem, such would be an unconscious guessing of the 

 name which this new sponge has received. Pheronema means the 

 skein-bearer. " In honor of his wife," Prof. Leidy " has dedicated the 

 species under the name of Pheronema Anna?. 



The names of this trio of wonderful sponges are, it will be seen, 

 expressive, euphonious, and picturesque Hyalonema, the glass, or 

 hyalene skein Euplectella, the accomplished weaver Pheronema, 

 the skein-bearer. 



Fig. 6. 



A Group op United Spicules in Pheronema. 



And now, like wresting jewels from the land of Ind, the naturalist 

 has found that these inimitable gems are of many kinds and abun- 

 dant, but locked up in the hitherto unapproachable coffers of the deep 

 sea. First, the Norwegian scientist invaded this domain, and bore off 

 amazing treasures. Then the Americans tried these great depths, and 

 brought up gems that amazed the eyes of the naturalist. Then came 

 the English expeditions, tolling the ocean treasury at the astounding 

 depth of 15,000 feet! It is now found that the congenial home 



