THE CIRRHOPODA. 287 
rapidly-moving natatory organs. Moreover, like the legendary 
Cyclops, they possess a great eye in the centre of their foreheads. 
When the cirrhopod becomes fixed, having no longer any use 
for either the fins or the eye, these organs, from disuse, become 
obliterated. According to that great law, “ From him that hath 
not shall be taken away even that which he hath,” that which is 
possessed, but not exercised, in time becomes useless and obliterated. 
AN ADULT CIRRHOPOD. 
(Balanus tintinnabulune.) 
Here we have, then, an example of a reversed law of Nature: the 
young, instead of reaching a higher development in its adult state, 
is in possession of a more complicated organism than its parent; 
and, instead of progressing, actually degenerates as it grows older. 
We do not express much wonder as we find the swimming organs 
of the coral larve, and other animals of the like kind, either 
obliterated or turned to other uses when the adult and sedentary 
stage is reached; but here is a creature possessing an eye which 
vanishes when it enters upon the fixed state. But why should not 
the cirrhopod enjoy the sense of vision, even if it be immovable ? 
It would not be more incongruous than a hen with a brood of 
ducks, whose instinct impels her to follow them into the pond, 
but whose nature denies her the power to swim! But the analogy 
is not admissible, inasmuch as a hen with a brood of ducks is 
unnatural. No such seeming oversight can be charged to the 
great Creator, who has never, and could never, so disturb the fitness 
of things! The cirrhopod, when adult, no longer finds the use it 
had for its eye when it was a roving youth ; and as there is no waste 
