THE SPONGES 413 



very strong, in spite of their small size; and one of these anemones 

 would easily catch and hold a prawn or a shrimp, or even a small 

 fish. 



The mouth of the anemone is in the midst of the tentacles; 

 and when a victim is caught they slowly turn inwards and hand 

 it down into the mouth, whence it passes straight into the stomach. 



An anemone is in fact a highly-endowed and highly-decorated 

 stomach. It possesses the power of locomotion by means of its 

 "sucker" foot; but as to animal parts and animal functions, these 

 all seem to be merged in the stomach, its one important organ. 



PORIFERA 



THE SPONGES 



After the sub-kingdom of the jelly-fish, the corals, and the sea- 

 anemones comes a yet lower sub-kingdom of the invertebrates — 

 the Porifera (the animals of "pores" or holes), viz. the Sponges. 

 Of these some 2000 are known, about 300 of which occur in the 

 British seas. Some are very beautiful and highly coloured. Their 

 skeletons — such as we know as "sponges" — are often formed of 

 threads of flint, and look like glass; and some are of most 

 wonderful form and construction. 



