THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 53 



There is even a third opinion, which views them as belong- 

 ing to both kingdoms at the same time. 



Every sponge is composed of a mass, to all appearance 

 gelatinous, supported by an inextricable network of horny 

 filaments, or more rarely by a calcareous or silicious frame- 

 work. 



Sponges are the lowest stage of animal life, lower even 

 than the monad. It is true they present very distinct forms 

 to our view, but nothing in them displays the individuality 

 of their architects. They are confounded together in one 

 glairy mass, the undulations of which are almost insensible ; 

 while the monad is clearly defined and endowed with an 

 active locomotion. 



The vitality of the sponges is indeed of so doubtful a 

 kind that they have only been classed in the animal king- 

 dom in consequence of deductions drawn from certain phe- 

 nomena they exhibit. Of organs there is no trace. 



Sponges are the most truly manifold in form of any ani- 

 mals ; they are met with of all shapes, all sizes, and all 

 colors. 



Some branch out like trees ; many resemble a funnel or a 

 trumpet ; others are divided into lobes like great fingers, 

 for instance, the Neptune's Glove; and there are some which 

 are known by the name of sea-muffs and sea-tapers, on ac- 

 count of their form. 



A certain variety produces great masses, which grow 

 from three to six feet high on the submarine rocks. They 

 have a narrow stalk, which at a certain height expands con- 

 siderably, and gives the structure the appearance of a cup, 

 symmetrically hollowed out, and exactly like an immense 



