248 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



(i) The Mediterranean coast, including the gulfs, bays 

 and islands from Italy to the Levant, and the 

 whole African shore. 



(2) The Bahamas, Florida, and the north coast of Cuba. 



(3) Australia and a few of the Pacific Islands. 



There are three grades of European sponges, i. e. , the Turkey 

 or Levant Sponge, the Horse Sponge, and the Zimocca Sponge. 



FIG. 31. — THE SYRIAN SILK SPONGE i Eusf>oiigia officinalis var. mediterranea Schum.) 

 The liiiest quality of Mediterranean sponge. 



The Turkey or Levant Sponge {Euspongia officinalis var. 

 mediterranea Schum.) is shown in the illustration. It is the finest 

 grade of sponge known. Its texture is very soft, fine and silky. 

 On account of the latter quality it is often called the Syrian Silk 

 Sponge. This same species grows in Florida but is of very poor 

 quahty, probably on account of the climate and other difi'erences 

 in its surroundings. 



The next grade of Mediterranean Sponge is the Horse Sponge 

 {Hippospongia equina 0. S.). Its quahty is very fine and is 

 paralleled on the Florida coast and in the Bahamas by the Velvet 



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