304 HISTORY OF BRITISH CRUSTACEA. 



mense number of small Crustaceans, which were of a red 

 hue. They swarmed in myriads on the surface of the sea, 

 and, when the wind was boisterous, a whole bank of them 

 could be taken up by a wave and carried on board the vessel, 

 covering; the deck and the clothes of the sailors. The whales 

 swallowed them in myriads, and they served for food, not 

 only to them, but to the Coronulce and Tabicinellce which 

 live as parasites upon their skin. The American fishers on 

 that station informed him that these little creatures, in the 

 fine weather of October and November, remain concealed 

 deep under the water, but that after that time they come to 

 the surface to lay their eggs/"* 



The late E. H. Goodsir observed in the Firth of Forth 

 that during the summer months animal matter in great 

 masses abounds on the surface of the sea. The fishermen 

 call it maidre. On a minute examination of this matter, he 

 found it to consist of Cirrhipedes, Crustacea, and Acalepha. 

 Amongst these the moving masses of Entomosiraca were 

 very conspicuous ; so much did they abound that it was 

 almost impossible to see anything even a few inches below 

 the surface. He adds, "If a clear spot is obtained, so as 

 to allow the observer to get a view of the bottom, immense 



* British Entomostraca, p. 234. 



