The Cucumber Sponge

In tie cucumber sponge (Eupïectella -yncumber) we have a ppecimen of ODe vrhich lies upon the mud after the mamier of its namesake, which it somewhat resembles. Perhaps, however, the most beautiful of all these silicious spoiiges is Euplectella aspergillum, or, as it is comruonly called, Venu.s' flower basket. It is like a beautiful horn of glassy fibers or a graceful buuquet holder. The first specimen of this spouge in Englaud carne irito the possesRion of the late Professor Owen in 1841. It was held by biin as a great treasure. It was soon followed by a few more specimens, which were sold in the market at about L6 apiece, but now that they have been fouud to be so plentiful they may be bought for as many shilliugs. These sponges were fouud by the Challenger expedition to be growing in vast abundaDce in certain spots in the deep waters amoug the Philippine islands and also off the coast of Brazil. "They live buried in mud which is so soft and loose as not to crush them or in any way to impede the assnmption of their elegant form, and they are supported in their position and prevented from sinking by a fringe of glassy spicules. "The tube of this specimen from the Philippines. after the death of the sponge, is frequently inhabited by one, Bometimes by a pair, of decapod crustaceans. " He reminds one forcibly of the hermit crab we have all seen living in dead shells upon our own shores. "These," says the same author, "are so of ten f ound together that only a few years ago a paper was written to show that this sponge was a wonderful habitation structed by this crab.