The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-02-13
From the Bright Side and Family CircleJ
The Story of the SpOnges.
BY MRS. sANBoRN TENNEY.

For many1years the Sponges were be-
Heved, by almost every one, to be strange
sea-plants. Even at the present time
there are some who regard them as very
low forms of vegetation; but those natu-
ralists who have the most closely observ-
ed and studied them, know them to be
true animals. They belong to a branch
Of the Animal Kingdom called the Proto-
zoans-a word which means first or
simplest animals, and which is given to
this branch on account of the simple form
and structure of the animal which it in
cludes.
The Sponges are often called Porifers,
from the pores or minute openings, which
are found all over their bodies. They
have also been named Amorphozoans, or
shapeless animals, because they appear to
have no definite and constant form, but
grow Of different shapes according to the
kinds, and to the circumstances under
which they are placed.
A few kind of Sponges are found in
fresh waters, but most of these animals
live in the sea; and although they occur
on all shores, from Greenland to Austria
liza. it is in the warm seas of the tropics
that they are most abundant and of the
greatest size Some kinds live only in
shallow waters, while other kinds live in
the depths of the ocean.
When alive and growing. the fresh
water Sponges are very beautiful; many
Of them are of clear, bright green color,
and their texture is so delicate they look
far more like little tufts of moss than
like living animals. The colors of some
OF the sea-sponges are very brilliant, it is
said but the beauty of the SpongeS is
due mainly to the graceful shapes in
which they grow. Some kinds cover the
rocks like carpet; some kinds take the
form of branching shrubs; some kinds
are club-shaped some are fan-shaped; {;
others are in the form of cups and vases;
and others hang in festoons from rocks,
or even from the sea-weeds which are
floating in the ocean.
The names, even of the Sponges are
pretty and they suggest the beauty of
the objects themselves One kind is bell
shaped, and it is called the Bell.Sponge; !;
another kind branches very delicately
and this one is called the Feather-Sponge
another kind is shaped somewhat like
the human had, and this has been named
the Mermnids Glove; another-long,
slender, and slightly spreading-is called
the Trumpet; another Is called the Pea
cocks Tail; another the Lyre; and the
broad fat leaf like kind is called the
Fan-Sponge.
The Sponges are compound animals
that is, they do not live singly, each
animal by itself, but large numbers of lit
tie creatures live and grow together, and
they are so minute, and so closely united,
that only in one or two kinds is the form
OF the body known. One kind which
lives upon our sea-coasts has been care
fully studied by Prof II. ]. Clarke, and
he has found that each animal has sac
like body, which at one end is attached
to the mass of sponge; at the other end,
which is Free there is q mouth, and from
the mouth there extends long thread
like organ, which is almost all of the time
in motion, and which seems to be used
to thrust little particles of food into the
mouth. Around or near the mouth OF
each little animal grow very fine hairs
called ella, from word which means an
eye-lash-which are also continually NOV
| ing; the constant movement of all these
| organs causes currents in the water, and
these currents bring air and food to the
animals, and thus they are nourished
and kept alive.
| But perhaps the most curious fact in
regard to the Sponges, is that they Sc
crete. or in some way are able to form
hard parts. called framework, or skele
| ton. In some kinds, as the common