EHIZOPODA. 



19 



the materials of which it is constructed to the persistent 

 agency of these microscopic organisms. 



Thus we perceive a film of living slime — for such essen- 

 tially these creatures seem to be, moulded into a thousand 

 beauteous forms, labouring incessantly — has silently pro- 

 duced results on which we can but gaze mth awe. 



CHAPTEK IIL 



SPONGES.* 



There seems to be little relationship between the 

 Foraminifera we have just been speaking of and 

 the race of sponges — in fact, few things could be 

 pointed out more unlike each other. Infinitely 



IMG. 7. — Sl-O.NGEs. 



diversified in their shape, the sponges, as we all 

 know, are distributed along the shores of every 



* Spongia, a sponge. 



