BY THE SEASIDE—ANIMAL LIFE 



we magnify the result of our work, that there are 

 a number of minute mineral spikes, called spicules, 

 and very beautiful objects they make for the micro- 

 scope. There are many sea-side creatures, which 

 we may find, closely related to " Mermaid's 

 fingers," they may all be treated in the same way 

 for they will all yield spicules which will repay us 

 for our trouble. All these spongy organisms are 

 not provided with spicules as ornaments, though 

 one might be forgiven for thinking so, see- 

 ing how decorative many of them are. Their 

 presence is necessary to strengthen the spongy 

 material. 



The specimen we have just examined is not one 

 animal but a colony of very minute animals. These 

 colonies are very common, not only in salt but also 

 in fresh water. They serve a useful purpose, for 

 the creatures composing them are so minute that 

 they would fare badly did they dwell alone. Dwel- 

 ling together as they do and each one contributing 

 its share to the building of the home they appear 

 to thrive to a wonderful degree. The coral islands 

 are built, as to their foundations at anyrate, by 

 millions of very minute animals, living together in 

 colonies. 



We mentioned the sponges a moment ago and 

 many of them may be found around our coasts; 

 not the household sponges we know so well, but 

 much smaller, though equally interesting, colonies. 

 Like the better known sponges, those which we find 

 on our shores are perforated with a number of holes ] 



212 



