Delicate Species of Sponge

Sponges of the common sorts are so well known that people long since ceased to admire their curious and interesting structure. There are some rare species of sponges, however, such as the “glass,” “lace” and “tapestry” sponges, that are so exceedingly beautiful that the presence of such a specimen never fails to excite expressions of admiration. The delicate “Venus flower basket” belongs to the family of glass sponges, and is rightly regarded as a wonder by all who have had the privilege of owning or viewing it. This curious “flower basket” is found in the deep sea near the Philippine islands and in no other place in the world in numbers sufficient to make fishing for them a profitable industry. This species of sponge looks like delicate threads of glass woven into a curious, beautiful and intricate pattern, some specimens being of such exquisite loveliness that one can scarcely believe that it is simply the skeleton of a variety of sponge. This sponge is composed of an immense aggregation of minute “spicules,” running lengthwise from end to end, with numerous cross bands at right angles. These bands an cross bands are set with numerous five, six, nine and twelve pointed spicules, some of them filled with dozens of holes, which can only be seen with a microscope, because they are so exceedingly fine.