CIDARID^E. SEA-EGGS. 269 



describe prudence.* By Aristotle it is called the 

 " migratory fish/' Professor Forbes, in his ' History 

 of British Star-fishes/ observes that " it is with their 

 spines that the Echini move themselves, seize their 

 prey, and bring it to their mouths by turning the rays 

 of their lower edge in different directions. The mouth 

 is generally turned to the ground, and the five teeth 

 which project from it form part of a remarkable dental 

 apparatus, known by the fanciful appellation of ' Aris- 

 totle's lantern/ "f 



In heraldry we find, according to Mr. Moule, that the 

 Echinus is borne, the arms of the Alstowne family being 

 gules 3 three sea-urchins in pale argent; and those of 

 Alstanton, azure, three sea-urchins argent The shells 

 of Echinus sphcera, the common sea-egg, are often 

 used for making emery cushions, cases for yard mea- 

 sures, and other toys. 



Pennant mentions sea-eggs being used for food in 

 many parts of England ; and Mrs. Gatty, in ' Old Folks 

 from Home/ if I remember correctly, states that 

 Echinus lividus, or " purple egg-urchin/' is eaten on 

 the west coast of Ireland. It is one of the burrowing 

 species, and lives in holes formed by it in the rocks. 

 Mr. W. Thompson informed Professor Forbes that he 

 had seen it in abundance in the South Isles of Arran. 

 " It was always stationary, the hole in which it is found 

 being cup-like, yet fitting so as not to impede its 

 spines. Every one lived in a hole fitted to its own 

 size, the little ones in little holes, and the large ones 

 in large holes ; and their purple spines and regular 



* * A Lady's cruise in a French Man-of-war.' 

 f Forbes'* ' British Star-fishes,' p. 154. 



