422 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
TURKEY CUP SPONGES. 
These sponges (pl. Lx and LXI, fig. 1), Known also as fine Levant or fine Syrian, 
are the Euspongia officinalis mollissima of Schulze. They are sometimes massive, 
when they are known to the trade as ‘‘ Turkey solids,’ but are frequently more 
or less cup-shaped, though perfect cups are comparatively rare, and as they are 
regarded as especially desirable bring high prices. The oscula are comparatively 
large and numerous and are grouped closely together on the upper surface of the 
solids or in the concavity of the cups, the skeletal partitions which separate 
them being often very thin. The outer surfaces are perforated by numerous 
round or polygonal pores, the narrow partitions between which are beset with 
long, slender, and very soft, fibrous pencils. The foreign bodies in the fibers are 
small in quantity, the main fibers themselves are comparatively few, and the 
microscopic network has rather large irregular and elongate meshes, this combi- 
nation of characters making it the finest and softest sponge and one of the most 
elastic on the market. 
The ‘Turkey cup” and ‘“‘ Turkey solid” are confined mainly to the eastern 
Mediterranean, though a closely related form comes from Zarzis, on the Tunisian 
coast. The very finest are obtained on the Syrian coast, but excellent qualities 
are found at Crete, Cyprus, and Mandruka in Egypt. It is stated that many of 
the best now come from caves and crevices, where they attain a finer and denser 
growtlr than elsewhere. This kind of sponge, like the Turkey toilet sponges, 
never attains a size comparable with that reached by most other commercial 
sponges, but the high price it brings compensates for its smallness. It is stated 
that a few of the very best sell for about $50 per pound. They are used mainly 
for the more exquisite purposes of the toilet. 
TURKEY TOILET SPONGES. 
These sponges (pl. LX, fig. 2,and Lx) are mainly included in the zoological 
variety Euspongia officinalis adriatica of Schulze, though apparently some inferior 
specimens of the Turkey cup sponge are also embraced in this commercial species. 
Toilet sponges are flatter and more encrusting in their habit than are the cup 
sponges, and are generally broadly attached, though sometimes the base is 
constricted. The oscula are confined to the upper surface, being usually dis- 
tributed over all parts excepting toward the edge, but in what appear to be 
compound individuals they are often arranged in groups. Each oscule is gen- 
erally surrounded by a rampart of bristles. The surfaces other than those 
bearing the oscula are perforated by numerous fine pores. The ridges forming 
the network between these pores are rather sharp edged as compared with the 
cup sponges, while the fibrous processes which they bear are shorter, stouter, 
harsher, and more bristle-like. The sponge as a whole is less compressible than 
the cup sponges and not so soft and fine. 
