small pores to a larger canal in the interior of the sponge. From that canal the current passes out again by one of the larger openings on the surface. 3. The water that takes part in this circulation carries with it large numbers of living particles, both plants and animals, of microscopic size, and it is these that serve as food for the sponge. In passing through the chambers set with cilia, such particles are arrested and absorbed. Any useless matter that may be taken in at the same time is afterwards allowed to escape, and is then carried along by the constant current of water, till it finally passes out of the sponge at one of the large openings. 4. One of the first processes that a sponge has to undergo, on being brought up from the bottom of the sea, is that of freeing the skeleton from the fleshy matter that adheres to it. This is easily done by the operations of kneading and pressing, and by the use of hot and cold water. Certain acids are also used to get rid of sandy particles, which are always present in greater or less quantity. 5. The best bath sponges are obtained from certain parts of the Mediterranean Sea, chiefly in the waters of the Archipelago, and on the coast of Syria, but also in the Adriatic and elsewhere. The sponges obtained in the waters surrounding the Bahamas and other islands in the West Indies, are coarser than those of the Mediterranean, and are chiefly used for horses and carriages. 6. Sponges grow on rocks at varying depths, and, to be procured in good condition, must be cut from the rocks by means of a strong, sharp knife. This is done by divers, who have been trained to this occupation from early years. By long practice, they are able to remain under water from a minute and a half to three minutes, and they sometimes dive to a depth of sixty 7. Such depths, of course, could not be reached by ordinary diving, but the sponge-divers employ a stone to enable them to sink; and to this stone a line is attached to keep them in communication with the boat from which they dive. On reaching the bottom, they remove as many sponges as they can in the short space of time during which they are able to remain there, and putting these under their arms, make use of the line to give to their comrades in the boat a signal intimating that they wish to be drawn up. 8. The boldest and most skilful divers of the Levant are the Greeks, especially those of the islands near the coast of Asia Minor. The sponge-fishers of the Morea and the islands adjacent to that peninsula frequently resort to another method of obtaining this commodity. They provide themselves with a pronged instrument, a sort of harpoon, which they throw down upon a spongebed so that the prongs get caught in the sponges. These can thus easily be torn away from the rock, and they are received in a bag or dredge of network connected with the harpoon. In order that the spongebeds may be seen at a considerable depth, the surface of the water must be perfectly smooth, and when it is not so, the fishers scatter handfuls of sand soaked in oil over it, so as to remove the ripples. 9. Though an easy mode of sponge-fishing, this plan does not furnish sponges in so good condition as when they are cut whole from the rocks by divers. They come up torn and ragged, and hence do not bring so high a price as the others. 10. Almost everywhere the business of sponge-fishing is pursued in a reckless fashion, without any regard for the future, and it is to be feared that the sponge-beds may in no very long time be rendered quite valueless by the extirpation of the sponge. To prevent this, it has been proposed to cultivate sponges artificially, and experiments have proved, at least, that the sponge can be propagated by a very simple method. The sponge is merely cut into cubes of about one inch, care being taken to squeeze out as little of the flesh as possible. The cubes are skewered on a strip of cane, and then placed in a suitable situation, to allow of their growth. In about seven years, a crop of fine, well-rounded sponges may in this way be made ready for the market. 11. The sponges with which we are so familiar, from their use for domestic purposes, are derived from only a very few of the animals to which the term sponge is applied by naturalists. That term is used in natural history to designate a large group of animal forms, in which the structure and vital processes are similar to those described in the beginning of this lesson. But most of them have a hard skeleton; and the only sponges fitted for domestic use are those in which the skeleton has that soft, elastic, horny texture which we all know very well. In some of the harder sponges, the skeleton is a structure of extreme beauty and delicacy. Skel'-e-ton, the bones or framework of an animal. From Gr. skeleton, dried. In-vest'-ed, covered, as with a vest or garment. From Lat. in, Ram'-i-fy, branch out. From Lat. In-te'-ri-or, inside. The compara- seeing small things. From Gr. to, and hæreo, I stick. In'-ti-mat-ing, making known. Har-poon', a dart for striking Ex-tir-pa'-tion, a rooting out, de EXERCISES.-1. Explain the following: (1) Living particles of microscopic size; (2) such particles are arrested and absorbed; (3) commodity; (4) sponge fishing is pursued in a reckless fashion; (5) the extirpation of the sponge; (6) horny texture. 2. Analyse and parse the following: 'Dare to be wise, and now Begin the man who has it in his : power To practise virtue, and puts off the hour, 3. Name all the words you know connected with the following English words: (1) Designate; (2) experiment; (3) adhere; (4) human; (5) operate. THE CHILDREN'S HOUR. When the night is beginning to lower, 2. I hear in the chamber above me The sound of a door that is opened, 3. From my study I see in the lamplight, |