Ernest Martinez, aged 9, of Denver, Colo. Forhis  question:

How are sponges formed?

The sponge you use to wash the car is a skeleton. That is, if it is a real and not a man‑made plastic sponge. A real sponge is a sea animal. When alive it is covered with Jelly‑like flesh and skin.

The sponge has an easy life, It does not have to struggle for food or air. It stays rooted to sea bottom. Other sea creatures leave it strictly alone because of its bad smell and taste. Food and air flow into its openings with sea water.

Every big sponge grew from a little sponge. Some sponges start out as small buds on the parent animal, Often, they never leave home. Many sizable sponges are really masses of smaller ones.

Other sponges begin life as tiny larvae. Some measure no more than a thousand to an inch. For a time, these little fellows swim freely around in the water. Then they grow big enough to anchor themselves and start a sit down life for themselves, These fellows grow bigger and bigger as the tossing sea floats air and food into their wide open tunnels. In a couple of years they may have grown big enough to make a wash‑sized sponge.

Before they get to the market, all the fleshy stuff is dried out from the sponge. All that is left is the tough, elastic skeleton.