592 
THE G LION A SULPHUREA. 
Class II. — C arxeo sp ox g re. Most of the forms embraced here have the skeleton frame- 
work made np of horny or silicious spicules. Three orders embrace the Sponges of this class. 
The III. Order, Keratoidea, includes the commercial Sponges ; those having a horny 
framework. 
Sub-order — Bpongin ce. The genus Spongia embrace all the Sponges that are utilized in 
commerce. Six species are 
at present recognized, with 
varieties. 
Three of the species are 
found in the Mediterranean 
and Red Sea, and three are 
native to Bahamas and the 
Florida Reef. 
The Sponges of our coast 
are of the coarser kinds, yet 
of great practical value in the 
arts and household affairs. 
It is an interesting fact 
that parties in the American 
localities have succeeded in 
raising Sponges from cut- 
tings. This is done, of course, 
under the sea surface, as the 
moment the Sponge is re- 
moved from water it dies. 
The broad areas of lagoon on 
the Florida Reef will furnish 
profitable returns of this new 
product. 
The well known “ Dead 
Man’s Finger” ( Chalinula 
oculata ), found frequently 
after storms on our beaches 
along the Atlantic coast, is 
of another order, called 
Keroto-silicoidea, on ac- 
count of the union of the 
two kinds of spicules. 
One of the sub -orders of 
this group embraces the spe- 
cies Microciona prolifer a, 
abundant on pools at Cape 
Cod. Its color is a bright 
orange, and in this form, 
fresh from the sea, it will 
GLASS SPONGE .— Holtenia carpenteri. (Natural size.) 
be remembered by many a visitor to the sea-shore after heavy gales. 
Another sub-order embraces the familiar Crumb- of -Bread Sponge {Halichondria panicea). 
Another, Buber it es compacta , is common on the south side of Cape Cod. 
Some boring forms, small, but very destructive to shell-fish, are common on our shores. 
Cliona sulphur ea is one notable species. Ho satisfactory explanation is yet forthcoming of 
its boring character. Another sub-order embraces the fresh- water Sponges. Two families, 
embracing ten species, represent the group at present. 
It is said that the peculiar ‘‘cucumber odor,” so called, is derived from the decay of these 
fresh- water Sponges, 
