SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY FOR TEACHERS. 257 



pine grosbeak were accomodating enough to fly into the road directly in 

 front of us and to remain there until we had had ample time to iden- 

 tify them. 



The cedar waxwings and purple finches were seen quite frequently on 

 our walks. The myrtle and the chestnut-sided warblers, the golden-crowned 

 kinglet, and the kingfisher were also seen. 



And still the crowning feature of the summer had not yet been ob- 

 served. E v er since our arrival, we had listened in vain for the song of 

 the hermit thrush. Often in the evening as we came home from a walk 

 in the woods, the song of the wood and of the Wilson's thrushes would ring 

 out o'er the now quiet woodlands, but not once did that much described 

 song of the hermit reach our longing ears. 



The evening before we came away, a friend offered to take us into a place 

 in the woods where she had once heard the hermit sing. Full of expecta- 

 tions, we started off at about dusk and by the time we reached the chosen 

 place, the woods were very quiet. We waited until the stars came out and 

 when at last were about to give it up in despair, suddenly a clear, melo- 

 dious song broke the stillness, and. we paused in silent admiration. How 

 that song echoed and reechoed through the fast gathering daikness. Was 

 there ever another song which compared with it ? And then suddenly it 

 ceased and we realized where we were. That was the heimit's vesper song, 

 and now he was going to rest, but long afterwards I could hear that ring- 

 ing note as it resounded through the sleeping forest. On the next day we 

 left for home, perfectly satisfied with our visit. 



SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY FOR TEACHERS. 



BY 



C. J. Mayxard. 

 ( Sponges, continued ) 



At the termination of the excurrent tube in a number of species of sponge 

 may be found a membrane, which in life extends partly ( or in rare cases 

 wholly) across the opening. This is a continuation of the lining membrane, 

 and an example of it may be seen in fig. Ill, above o, and also in a top 

 view of the same sponge in fig. 125. It will be seen that the hole in the 

 membrnae on the left is larger than that on the right. Age in the sponge 

 appears to have very little to do with the absence or presence of this mem- 

 brane. It is very little developed in the old sponge figured on page 180. 

 Yet in the young specimen given on page 228, fig. 112, it extended wholly 



