A SPONGE 101 
to hard firm objects, such as rocks. If the water be deep, 
divers are employed—if, however, it be sufficiently shallow, 
the sponges are cut from the rocks by means of hooks 
attached to long poles. Certain kinds of sponges are. not 
uncommon along the New Zealand coasts. These, however, 
are hard and brittle and generally lacking in those qualities 
which make the common sponge so useful. 
NoTE.—This subject might be taken in any of the classes. The 
physical properties of the sponge form a suitable topic for investi- 
gation either in the Infant Department or St. I., where its 
lightness, elasticity, porosity etc. could be discussed. The_ 
investigation of the last-mentioned property, viz. porosity, would 
lead incidentally to a talk on porous bodies—blotting paper, 
chalk, lamp-wick, charcoal etc. The animal origin of the sponge 
can be inferred from the nature of the material composing it ; for 
it consists of silky fibres, and do not Silk-worms and Spiders spin 
silk? Several kinds of sponge are found along the New Zealand 
coast—these when available should be utilised in determining the 
marine origin of the animal and in other parts of the lessons. 
The whole of the lesson or lessons should be plentifully 
illustrated by drawings and diagrams, especially those parts 
dealing with the living sponge, its growth and development, 
method of procuring food, as also the way in which sponges of 
commerce are obtained, though much of this part of the subject 
might be held over until pupils have reached the standard classes. 
Sea-Anemones and other forms belonging to the coelenterates 
could also be profitably studied in suitable localities. In the rock 
pools along many parts of the coast Sea~-Anemones abound ; some 
of the forms being exceedingly beautiful and reaching upwards 
of six inches in diameter when expanded. Any investigation of 
the Sea-Anemone should be undertaken out of doors, when the 
animal could be observed under normal conditions. During an 
excursion made to the rock-pools, other water dwellers could 
be studied. 
