286 THE BARNACLE. 



bill and legs. The head is shaped like that of the 

 Shell-drake, but the bill wants the strong hook at the 

 extremity. It frequents the sea-shore in many places, 

 often in considerable numbers, and feeds on small shell- 

 fish and other molluscous animals. The flesh is oily, 

 with a strong fishy taste, and thus " being identified 

 with fish, it is allowed by the Romish Church to be 

 eaten in Lent and on fast-days; and so great is the 

 demand for it, that many devices are in use on the sea- 

 coasts of [Roman] Catholic countries to obtain these 

 ducks for the use of the table." * Mr. Yarrell, from 



* The statement here given, on the authority of Mr. Yarrell, is, I 

 have been recently informed, much too broad and unqualified. There 

 is no general rule of the Roman Church on this subject, but in certain 

 localities old customs of this nature have long prevailed, which are 

 permitted, but not enjoined. That the Barnacle was formerly eaten 

 in Ireland on fast-days as fish, and that it may still be so used in 

 some remote parts of the island, is a common opinion ; and a learned 

 friend has pointed out to me a curious passage, to be found in an old 

 Dutch book of travels in Europe, " Zeer gedenkwaardige en naan- 

 keurige historische Reis-beschrijvinge door Vrankrijk, Spangie, Ita- 

 lien, Duitsland, Engeland, Holland en Moscovien, p. 445," published 

 at Leyden in 1700, of which there is a copy in the Library of Trinity 

 College, Dublin, to the following effect. Speaking of Ireland, the 

 author says, " There are also many other animals, among which may 

 be remarked a sort of bird out of the marshes, called Barnacles, 

 which are produced in a wonderful manner. For they have neither 

 father nor mother, nor come forth out of any eggs, but out of the gum 

 of the fir-trees, which are common on the sea-shore. They are seen 

 first to open the mouth, afterwards to move the body, and as soon as 

 they feel themselves loose, fly into the air, or plunge into the water of 

 the marshes. The clergy and ecclesiastics of the kingdom eat of these 

 animals in the fasts, and give out that they are not produced from 

 flesh of any kind." In making these remarks, I wish distinctly to 



