ROUND THE INDIAN " Mb SUM.* ' l6l 



" I. the sponge type^ and may he defined as jelly-like 

 organisms ' destitute of a mouth, and united into a com- 

 posite mass, which is traversed by canals opening on the 

 surface, and is almost always supported by a frame-work 

 of horny fibres, or of silicious and calcareous spicula.' 

 It is only the skeleton washed and dried that you see 

 exhibited here. By the by, have any of you ever seen 

 a live sponge ? Why look surprised ? Oh ! that is your 

 idea. Let me assure you then that sponges are not 

 only found in the sea but in fresh^ water also, and that 

 the spongella, as this fresh water family of sponges is 

 called, is found in marshes and stagnant waters in every 

 part of India. Do you know where the sponges come 

 from ? Yes, the sponges of commerce come from the 

 Bahama Islands, and from the Grecian Archipelago also^ 

 But then there are other kinds which are found in deep 

 seas. Didn't one of you ask me why sponges are 

 labelled Porifera ? Let us hear what Upen has to say, I* ^ 

 know he has been working hard at Latin to qualify him- 

 self for the Gilchrist examination. You are very right* 

 porus in Latin means a pore; and fero I carry, and the 

 name has reference to the fact that in sponges respir-a- < 

 tion and ingestion of food are carried through the pores 

 in their body. Before we say good-bye to the sponges,.. 

 I wish you to take note 6f the various kinds of sponge . 

 skeletons here displayed. We now come to the Zoo- 

 phytes with feelers and spines which belong to , 



" II. the Stinging Zoophyte type. The Stinging cells 

 or spines as you call them constitute their weapons of * 



