The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-06-14
The Life Of s Sponge

Mr J. :. B0yerbank. of London ha.
published work on the Anatomy OF the
sponge az extended notice OF which -.
anl ~ The London Eer,el- ;or January -
4 Tie Asr.etc SAYS. These three hundred
pa-es form Nature. history romance straic-
a-nser than fiction because il Is but tie ex-
f preston ot trl,h. Dr. Eoverbank ha,
written The life 0t - very humble deuizen of
f Tie mighty N4.rrs"-hls hero Is nothing
more than a sponge. But what is q
sponge asa some reader whose curiosity if
Thar direction has now for the first time
been Developed
\ mass Oi matter having a rather definite
shape containing q great deal Of gelatin
Ous looking substance. apparently support
ell upon some prickly frame work and nav-
laS series OF apertures IN lis outer surface
which communicate with channels trayers-
lug rs Interior. Remove g portion from
Tie water. and after feW
hours Il becomes putr.d and evolves o1en
-lFe FapOrs thai extent reminding Us @.
living beings. Watch l. IN It's native eie
ment. anu what Is Observed Certain oi
Wh9f are seen steadily passing 6y nun
dred different currents toward one SCI %.
external ap,r.ur,s (the smaller OF the two
while other molecules are perceived making
their exit from the interior by g second Sc
ries OF openings the wider of the twoL
These processes " arrival and departure
are constantly going on, ami convince the
naturalist that living being IS before him.
But closer inspection proves 10 him that
the particles which are expelled from the
substance Of the sp0nge's structure are the
same particles which entered but IN an a.
tered state; they are collapsed. diminished
IN size, aud deprived. in a great part. OF
their contents; ia point OF fact, IN travelling
from the external medium lthe water into
the internal cavities Oi the sponge they
have Deeu robbed Of their nutritious COM
pOueLts and have been digested. Thus Is
the auimaliiy Of the sponge demonstrated
beyond question.
DR.. BOwerbanA, IN proving tho existence
of these currents Of entrance aud exit, fed
q small specimen OF SpONg.AG f"r4'iftiS, one
OF fresh water spOnges. with finely powder
Ell indigo IN water The molecules of indigo
were readily followed and were seen lowing
lu every direction through the interior VI
the sponge. During the maintenance O
p tIns "etIUn one Ol he larger dpertures Wa;
pouring forth continuous stTeem Of water
and along with lacculent matter, and many
OF The larger molecules that had entered b,
the smaller apertures; but although th,
finer molecules OF indigo were being imbi
bed III very Considerable numbers very few
OF them were being elected and il this pro
cess continue for nall an hour and thei
cease, the sponge Is seen 10 be very strong
ly .lnted with the blue cOlOrs OF the indigo
and il remains so for twelve or fourteen
hours, after which il resumes It's pellucu
appearance, the whole OF the imbIbed mol
ecuies having undergone digestion in th
sarc0de lining OF the interior OF the sponge
and the eile.e matter having been eJecte'
through the oscula, or larger openings.
The animal Is decidedly iieshy mass q
tissue, termed sarcOdc, supported upon
skeleton framework Of spicies. Thes
short, and assume an endless variety
form In some cases as in the sponge
commerce-the skeleton is composed {
tiJres OF q substance termed keratOae, th
= spicules being absent. The spicules, bein
scattered regularly through the ileshy tis
ue, not only support the latter, but leave
number OF inters, which are clOthe
, wiki sal cOlus matter. and, communicable
with each other and the external aperture
form az once 4 great respiratory and dige
> tive system. These canals are cOvert
, with what are termed cal.u-m micrOsc0pica
I Is delicate filaments, which are perpetual
D in notion and thus produce the yarlo'
currents of lugress and c5ress which a
e 80 essentia. 10 the weii-cenE Of the al
. NAL