RHIZOPODA. 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 with awe. 



CHAPTER III. 



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 



.blti. 7. SPONGES. 



diversified in their shape, the sponges, as we all 



know, are distributed along the shores of every 



* Spougia, a sponge. 



