VI 



Zoologist Professor S. Loven has sent me specimens of deep-sea sponges, for comparison 

 with those discovered by me. 



With regard to the composition in its entirety, I must represent myself as alone re- 

 sponsible; so that the possible defects noticeable in this respect may be attributed to me 

 and not to my Father. 



That I have chosen a foreign language, instead of my mother tongue as the medium 

 of this communication, is a circumstance which I think does not call for any justification on 

 my part. Science is cosmopolitan, and therefore requires a generally intelligible language. 

 Our language has not reached this point yet; and to facilitate the reading of this little work, 

 I have adopted one of the great universal languages. I have preferred the English language, 

 as well because it has most affinity with our own, and consequently affords greater facility 

 for rendehng the Norwegian expressions, as in acknowledgment of the great progress which 

 zoological science has made in recent times, through the medium of the English language. 



G. 0. SARS. 



