Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 3.djvu/557

Rh much lowlier creature, fingerless, and for that matter organless, up-rears these fairy structures. However, the fact is indisputable. There they are, incased in glass, and beyond the possibility of deliverance. Were these little folks communicative, and not so crabbed, one might ask if they acted out the moral of the adage about people who live in glass houses. There is little doubt that this imprisonment is voluntary. We think these crabs are true commensals. Whether welcome or not, they always eat at the Euplectella's table. Lest we should seem to be muddling the work of the systematists, we would be understood metaphorically, when stating our positive conviction that these crabs are sponges from their very birth.

A new glass-sponge, obtained from the island of Santa Cruz, W. I., is described by Prof. Joseph Leidy, in the American Naturalist for March, 1870. Some description of it had already been given elsewhere. Its form is seen in Fig. 4. It will be remembered that the glass-rope sponge had one fascicle or bundle of glass threads. This sponge has at least twenty of these bundles, each about two inches long. These also are of silicious threads, and have the appearance of "tufts of blond human hair." It would not be strange should a lady naturalist liken them to skeins of cuir-color zephyr worsted; for, queer as this may seem, such would be an unconscious guessing of the name which this new sponge has received. Pheronema means the skein-bearer. "In honor of his wife," Prof. Leidy "has dedicated the species under the name of Pheronema Annæ.

The names of this trio of wonderful sponges are, it will be seen, expressive, euphonious, and picturesque––Hyalonema, the glass, or hyalene skein—Euplectella, the accomplished weaver—Pheronema, the skein-bearer.



And now, like wresting jewels from the land of Ind, the naturalist has found that these inimitable gems are of many kinds and abundant, but locked up in the hitherto unapproachable coffers of the deep sea. First, the Norwegian scientist invaded this domain, and bore off amazing treasures. Then the Americans tried these great depths, and brought up gems that amazed the eyes of the naturalist. Then came the English expeditions, tolling the ocean treasury at the astounding depth of 15,000 feet! It is now found that the congenial home