THEIR APPEARANCE REVIVES AND CORROBOR- 

 ATES AN' OLD INDIAN' LEGEND. 



96 THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



their natural state, that is with the spines on. the habits, and actions of these peculiar 



This diiiculty has been largely overcome in creatures. 



late years by our energetic dealers and collectors, The most prominent species on the Atlantic 



so that now they can be secured in all their coast seems to be Strongylocentrotus drobach- 



beauty of natural shape and colors. iensh. what a formidable name for this poor 



The Field Columbian Museum of Chicago creature; is it any wonder that the common 



have an exceptionally fine collection of the name sea urchin is more popular. 



Radiate family. It may not be generally H. B. Derr. 



known that in some localities the sea urchins Chicago, 111. 

 are used as an article of food, especially in the 



South Sea islands. In the bay of Naples 



where many of the finest species are found, 

 hundreds of people can be seen diving after 



urchms. They are especially valuable to FLAMINGOES SEEN HERE. 



the natives before tney deposit their eggs, 



being as highly jjrized as the eggs of the herring 

 and some other fishes. The urchins burrow 

 in the sand until aUnost hidden only being 

 located by a funnel shaped depression in the 



sand. This burrowing is accomplished by Sund.iy morning as tii u dreamy haze known 

 working the spines back and forth; being only to the waters of I'aget Sound vv.is being 

 perfectly rigid. The natives locate the urchins dissipated by the sun's rays, a few early sight- 

 by the depressions in the sand. Urchins seeisfrom abroad, while strolling about the 

 ?4-e very plentiful in the waters of the Florida ocean docks were treated to a most interesting 

 coral reefs; Wyville Thomson at one time and uncommon sight. It was no less thnn a 

 securing severrd thousand at one dip of the seine, flight of flamingoes those timid and delicate 



The food of the urchin seems to consist of birds from the bayous and morasses of the 



both animal and vegetable matter, as fragments sunny climes far to the south of us. 



of both kinds have been found in the digestive Legends of the Siwash t-11 us that upon rare 



cavity. It has also been stated that fragments occasions a few birds of great beauty of jjlum- 



of shells have been found in them which would age and form appear here, build their nests, 



prove that they devoured the mollusks. One rear their young, utter their plamtive cries, and 



species commonly called the heart urchin is in the early fall disappear towards the south, 



said to live lielow the sand .ind secures its food Their story is that the birds do not come again 



from the animal substances thnt mingle with it, during the life of the Indian who saw them, 



on examination it was found that much of its and that when they do reappear it is only for 



digestive organs were filled with sand. I liave one summer. And so it has been for countless 



several specimens of fossil sea urchin, from ages, and the legend tells us it will be S'-> for 



Texas, they resemble the siecies commonly all time to come. 



called sea beaver. The description handed down from generation 



In the Indian ocean several species of the lo generation tallies exactly with the flamingo, 



urchins are armed with sharp spines which and so we must believe that those we saw are 



injure the feet of many of the native bathers, indentical wuh the birds of the legend, and the 



inflicting painful wounds. It has been claimed harbingers ol gootl times and prosperity, for, 



by some writers that the sea urchms are say the Indians, the visit of this bird means 



terrible foes to the smaller mollusks. Without "plenty game, plenty fish and everything 



doubt there is much yet to be learned regarding good." — Tacoma Ledger, June 24th. "90. 



