COMMON OBJECTS OF THE SHORE. 



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formed by the great Creator, and preserved by 

 his constant care ! 



Lowest in the scale of animal life, yet won- 

 drously constructed as are animals of highest organ- 

 ization, are those singular productions, the Sponges, 

 springing from the marine rocks or sea caverns, 

 or growing down in the waters of ocean, or occa- 

 sionally clustering in the clear rivulet. As they 

 branch forth from the rocky fissure, resembling 

 plants in their form, ramifying, like them, accord- 



ing to local circumstances, having nothing which, 

 at first appearance, would indicate an animal 

 nature, it is not surprising that zoologists deemed 

 them of vegetable origin, or at least regarded them 



