| Show ABOUT SPONGES facts relating to color size and shape and now they grow the color size and shape of the sponges are as varied as their distribution violets reds greens are frequent colors due perhaps in some cases to mimicry or protective resemblance in shape and size says good words some are flattened globular masses of small size others are great treelike tree like growths several feet round others wide deep cups and others little lacework tubes of the finest spun glass some are tough and horny and live in shallow and therefore rough water and need a strong skeletal framework others are delicate and brittle and only flourish in the quiet depths of the sea the horny sponge as the sponges of commerce are called from their tough horny skeleton which we know BO well flourish in the greatest abundance in water from 30 to 40 fathoms in depth the delicate sponges however which would be utterly smashed to pieces in this rough water are only found far below this along the coasts of portugal and brazil beautiful specimens were found by tue challenger flourishing in great abundance at the depth of fathoms and from that down to 2000 fathoms or between two and three miles beneath the sea level they were found lying upon or embedded in the soft mud which covers the bottom of the sea the greatest number of sponges however grow in water from to 1000 fathoms in depth |
