34 



LINN^AN GENERA. 



Lepas Tintinnahulum. — The Little Bell Lepas. 

 Plate V. fig. 2. (Balanus Tintiniiabulum, Lamarck.) 

 Shell conical, with the valves strongly and irregularly 

 ribbed, interstices delicately striated transversely ; colour 

 purple. Inhabits the West Indies. 



Those described above are termed Acorn Shells m Britain. This 

 genus consists of two families or divisions, very different in their 

 shape. The first of these is composed of the Balani, or Acorn shells, 

 of a subconic form, with an operculum or lid, consisting of either four 

 or six valves ; the body of the shell with six valves. The second family 

 is that of the Anatiferous, or Barnacles, v^hich are connected Anth, 

 and supported at the base by, a tendinous tube or pedicle, of a flexible 

 natm-e, allo'(\ing the animal to writhe about in qiiest of food ; it has 

 no opercidimi, is Avedge-shapcd, and consists of five or more tmequal 

 valves. 



Lepas anattf era. —The Common Smooth Lepas. Plate I. 

 fig. 2. (Anatifa lajvis, Lamarck.) Shell compressed with five 

 obsoletely striated valves ; the lower valves somewhat tri- 

 angular; the superior ones long, and tapering to an obtuse 

 point; cormected by an orange-coloured cartilage; base affixed 

 to a peduncle of a colour between vermilion and orange. 



This shell generally adheres to pieces of rotten v\ood or the bottoms 

 of vessels, and is found in almost all seas. 



Linnteus founded the name of this shell on the circimistance that 

 it was from it that the Barnacle Goose was su^'posed to have had its 

 oi'igin. Gerard's account of this transformation, as it affords a re- 

 markable instance of the credulity of the times, is too curious to be 

 omitted. " There are found in the north parts of Scotland, and the 

 islands adjacent called Orchades, certain trees whereon do grow cer- 

 tain shells tending to russet, wherein are contained little living crea- 

 tures, which shells in time of matm'itie do open, and out of them grow 

 those little li\ing tilings, which falling into the water do become 

 fowles, which we call Barnacles ; in the north of England Brant Geese ; 

 and in Lancashire, Tree Geese ; but the others that do fall upon the 

 land i^erish and come to nothing. Thus much from the writings of 

 others, and also from the mouths of people of those parts, which may 

 very well accord with truth. 



" But Avhat our eyes have scene and hands have touched we shall 

 declare. There is .a small island in L.ancashire called the Hill of 

 Flounders, wherein are found in the broken pieces of old ships, some 

 whereof liave been cast thither by shijaracke, and also the trunks and 

 bodies with the branches of old and rotten trees, cast up there hke- 

 Tvise : whereon is found a certain spume or froth that in time breedith 

 into certain shells, in shape like those of the Muskle, but sharpei 



