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CIDARITES. 



are organs of the Echinodermata, or parasitic creatures, 

 though inclined to the former opinion. 



The common Sea-Urchin is usually of a reddish or 

 purplish colour with white spines. The spines are in some 

 specimens tipped with purple. It lives in various depths 

 of water, extending its range from the littoral zone to that 

 of Corallines. It usually congregates in greatest numbers 

 on a clean sea bottom. It is found on all the shores of 

 Britain and Ireland, almost equally common everywhere, 

 and is much used as a chimney ornament by cottagers. 

 Abroad, like its congener, the true Echinus esculentus, it is 

 much eaten, and Pennant says it is eaten by the poor in 

 many parts of England. Among the ancients it was a 

 favourite dish, and eaten both raw and cooked in various 

 ways. The ovaries were the parts selected ; and when 

 these are full of egg, the animal is in season, which is 

 usually about autumn. In the month of May I found the 

 ovaries full of a white milky fluid, which contained little 

 revolving bodies with eccentric motions. Are these to be 

 regarded as spermatic animalcules \ Is the animal male 

 at one season and female at another \ Both Dr. Wagner 

 and M. Milne Edwards look upon the Urchin as bisexual. 



