HISTORICAL II 



Aristotle, refers to the white urchins at Torone; then follows this 

 curious passage which has been repeated by many of the older writers: 

 "It is said that these creatures foreknow the approach of a storm at sea, 

 and that they take up little stones with which they cover themselves, 

 and so provide a sort of ballast..., for they are very unwilling by rolling 

 along to wear away their prickles (Fig. 3). As soon as seafaring persons 

 observe this, they at once moor their ship with several anchors." This 

 passage, no doubt, refers to those species like Lytechinus variegatus and 

 Psammechinus miliaris which normally cover themselves with shells, 

 algae, etc., probably for concealment or as protection against light 

 (see under Phototaxis and Light Reaction, Chapter 6). Pliny also, like 

 Aristotle, refers to the eggs occurring at full moon ' (Pliny, ix. 74; 

 Bostock and Riley, vol. 2, p. 465). 



According to Pliny (xxxii. various chapters; Bostock and Riley, 

 vol. 6) sea urchins were used as an antidote for certain poisonous 

 plants {dorycnium and carpathum) and as a remedy for many ills, ulcers, 

 inflammatory tumors, scrofula, eye troubles, etc., and the spines for 

 strangury (cf. Aristotle). In some cases the shells were ground up in 

 wine or vinegar, sometimes burnt; in other cases the eggs were used. 

 Kidney stones were treated "by drinking sea urchins, pounded, spines 

 and all, in wine; the due proportion being one semi-sextarius" (about 

 a cup) "of wine for each urchin, and the treatment being continued 

 till its good effects are visible. The flesh, too, of the sea urchin, taken 

 as a food is very useful as a remedy for the same malady." "They 

 should be burnt with vipers' skins and frogs, and the ashes sprinkled 

 in the drink (vinegar) ; a great improvement of the eyesight being 

 guaranteed as the sure result." For methods of cooking see Poissons et 

 Animaux Aquatiques au temps du Pline by Cotte (1944, p. 237). 



It is of interest that several places in Greece derive their names from 

 Echinus. Pliny mentions an island named Echinussa (now Kimolos), one 

 of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, near Melos, where fossil specimens 

 are still abundant on the coast (iv. 23; Bostock and Riley, vol. i. p. 322, 

 and footnote). He also mentions a group of islands called Echinades, 

 also called Kurtzolari, in the Ionian Sea off Acarnania on the west 

 coast of Greece, at the mouth of the Achelous River (iv. 19; Bostock 

 and Riley, vol. i, p. 310 and footnote). There was also a town in 

 Acarnania named Echinos, probably now Ai Vasili (iv. 2 ; Bostock 

 and Riley, vol. i, p. 273 and footnote). 



There are many references to sea urchins by other Greek and Roman 



' The lunar periodicity has been especially studied by Fox (1924 a) and is taken up in 

 Chapter 7. 



