66 BAEXACLES. 



that is, composed of little fibres, like strings, crossing each 

 other, as we see what are called the veins in a leaf. 



Much more might be said about the internal structure of 

 the Cii-rhopods, or Balani, as the Earnacle group is sometimes 

 called, from the Latin Balcmus — a kind of acorn. By some 

 naturalists, the term is not applied to the stalked Cirrliipoda, 

 like that we have been describing, but only to the sessile kinds, 

 that is, those which set close or grow low; from the same 

 Latin root comes the English word session — a settling. The 

 coverings of these Dwarf Barnacles are sometimes called acorn 

 shells; they are commonly white, of an irregular cone shape, 

 composed of several ribbed pieces, closely fitted together with 

 an opening at the top, closed by an operculum, or stopper. 



These, shells cover in patches the surface of exposed rocks, 

 drift wood, and any other substance. Some of the molkisks 

 affix themselves to the bodies of Whales, others form a lodg- 

 ment in the hollows of corals and sponges. Once fixed they 

 remain so during life, taking their chance of such suitable 

 food as may come within their limited sphere of action. At 

 an earlier stage of their existence, both their shape and habits 

 are very difi'erent, being lively little creatures, swimming about 

 hither and thither like water-fleas. They are about the tenth 

 of an inch long, and of most grotesque appearance, having 

 six jointed legs set with hairs, the whole being so arranged 

 that they act in concert, and striking or flapping the water, 

 send the little body along in a series of bounds; then the 

 creature has two long arms, each furnished with hooks and a 

 sucker, and a tail tipped with bristles, which is usually folded 

 up under the body; its pair of large staring eyes are peduncu- 

 lated, that is, set upon foot-stalks; it has a house on its back, 

 like a bivalve shell, into which it can collect its scattered 

 members when occasion requires. AYhen of suflicient age to 

 settle itself in life, and become a staid member of submarine 

 society, it fixes itself to some convenient object, throws away 

 its eyes as no longer useful, gets rid of its preposterous limbs, 

 enlarges its house, and sits down to fisliing in a small way 

 for an honest and respectable livelihood. 



A piece of timber covered \a\h Stalked Barnacles, wriggling 

 and twisting about like so many helmeted snakes, and waving 

 their plume-like cirrlii, is a very curious sight. They some- 



