262  Bahama  Sponges.  {AmMay"i8P87arm- 
Grass  Sponge. — This  is  a  soft  sponge,  rounded  or  oblong  in  out- 
line, with  the  oscules  crowded  together  on  the  upper  surface,  each  os- 
cule  being  generally  surmounted  by  a  short  thin  projecting  tube  of 
sponge  fibre,  which  has  a  longitudinally  striated  appearance,  quite 
characteristic  of  this  sponge.  Occasionally  there  are  a  few  large 
openings  at  the  side.  Another  very  noticeable  feature  in  this  variety 
is  that  the  projecting  tufts  of  fibres  are  very  slender  and  appear  to  be 
arranged  in  a  somewhat  regular  manner  in  perpendicular  lines,  which, 
extending  to  the  upper  surface,  gives  it  a  singularly  radiate  appear- 
ance. Although  very  soft  and  elastic,  the  grass  sponge  is  easily  torn, 
owing  to  the  looseness  of  its  fibre.  It  is  quite  soft  enough  for  toilet 
use,  and  is  only  about  one-third  the  price  of  the  sheeps'  wool 
sponge. 
Another  form  of  the  grass  sponge  is  described  by  Mr.  Hyatt  under 
the  name  of  Spongza  graminea,  and  included  by  him  under  the  grass 
sponges;  it  has  a  coarser  texture  and  the  internal  tissue  is  very  open, 
owing  to  the  large  size  and  central  position  of  the  larger  openings.  It 
usually  has  the  shape  of  a  truncated  cone,  and  is  fluted  on  the  side 
with  deep  furrows,  the  truncated  apex  being  either  flat  or  funnel- 
shaped  and  the  oscules  appearing  on  the  truncated  apex.  It  is  a  gre- 
garious form,  growing  only  three  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
water. 
Hardhead. .—-The  sponges  that  pass  under  this  name  do  not  form  a 
distinct  kind,  but  the  term  is  applied  to  hard  varieties  of  the  above 
sponges  ;  thus  there  is  a  hard-head  glove  and  a  hardhead  sheeps'  wool. 
The  former  appears  to  bear  the  same  relation  to  the  glove  or  reef 
sponge  that  the  Zimocca  does  to  the  Turkey  cup  sponge. 
Yellow. — This  sponge  is  the  coarsest  and  hardest  of  all  the  Bahama 
sponges.  It  presents  a  dome-like  shape  and  exhibits  on  the  upper 
surface  a  few,  often  slightly  projecting  oscules,  which  are  large  enough 
to  admit  the  little  finger.  The  superficial  tufts  of  fibre  have  a 
branched  appearance  with  finely  fringed  ends.  To  the  touch  the 
sponge  is  quite  tough  and  hard,  yielding  only  to  considerable  pressure, 
and  its  texture  is  brittle.  It  is  fit  for  stable  use  or  where  a  coarse 
sponge  only  is  required,  and  is  only  about  one-tenth  the  price  of 
honeycomb  sponge. — Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  March  19,  1887.  p. 
761. 
