THE GLASS-SPONGES. 



543 



gether. From the sponge of the toilet this sarcocle and its spicules 

 have been all removed. The interesting fact is that, while these 

 spicules are arranged in different patterns, many being made to 

 radiate like stars, no two species have the same pattern. Look at 

 Fig. 6, which represents the spicules of Fheronema. It looks as if 



Fig, 7. 



&i^a| 



1MW 



Section op the Outer Wai/l of Ventriculites Simplex, showing the structure of the sili- 



cious net-work. Magnified 50 times. 



the series were united together to make an irregular star. Now, one 

 of these needles sticks perpendicularly into the sarcode, leaving the 

 other rays to spread out in a plane, to which the one that serves as a 

 spike is perpendicular. One might liken it to a parasol without its 

 silk covering the handle in the hand is the spike, and the steel ribs 



Fig. 8, 



Extremity op a Mooring- Thread op Pheronema, showing the notched sides and the anchor- 

 flukes at the end. Greatly magnified. 



spread out will represent the silicious rays, or spicules. At a little 

 distance from this penetrating needle, or spike, the needle of another 

 of these irregular stars pierces the sarcode. Of consequence, the ra- 

 diating needles, or spicules, of each one of these irregular stars lock 

 into the similar spicules of the adjoining star, and so on for the entire 

 mass, until it has the effect of felt ; with this great difference, however 

 so regular is this natural felting of the sponge-flesh that the whole 

 mass is spiculated or laid out in quite regular and pretty patterns ; 

 and such is the uniformity of pattern for each kind that they actually 



