THE BURROWING BARNACLE. 491 



three and four inches in diameter. It is found in large bunches, sometimes consisting of a 

 hundred individuals, some adhering to the rocks and others to the shells of their companions. 

 The bunches of Parrot-beaked Barnacles bear a decided resemblance to the strange cacti whose 

 leaves are set so oddly upon each other. 



This Barnacle is gathered, or rather hewn from the rocks in large quantities, and exported 

 to Valparaiso and other places, where it is held in high estimation as a delicacy for the table. 

 It is generally boiled, and eaten cold, like the common crab, and is said to resemble that 

 crustacean in general flavor. It is a South American species, and is found most plentifully 

 and of the largest size at Concepcion de Chile, and the best specimens are taken from a little 

 island called Quiquirina, which lies across the mouth of the bay. 



A creature which is found plentifully on some coasts is called the common ACORN- 

 BARNACLE. On many coasts the surface of every stone and rock that is washed by the sea, 

 the exterior of every pile of masonry that is lashed by the waves, is covered with the shells of 

 this curious little creature, which is extremely valuable to the naturalist, as its habits are 

 easily studied, and from its exceeding plenty any number of specimens can be obtained. 

 They are very pretty inhabitants of an aquarium, but they require peculiar conditions to keep 

 them in health, and if they die, are sure to corrupt the surrounding water to such an extent, 

 that nearly every other inhabitant of the aquarium will share their fate. Spots over which 

 the tide only runs for a few hours are thickly studded with these Barnacles, and it is interest- 

 ing to see how quickly they open their valves and fling out their arms as soon as the water 

 covers them at each returning tide. When the sea withdraws, they close their shells firmly, 

 and retain within their interior a sufficiency of water wherewith to carry on the business of 

 respiration until the next tide brings a fresh supply. Total submersion seems to be hurtful to 

 them. 



They are very awkward to the shore bather who does not know the coast, as the edges of 

 their shells are exceedingly sharp and knife-like, and inflict very painful scratches when 

 brought into collision with the unprotected skin. Even to those who are searching on the 

 rocks for marine curiosities the Barnacles are very annoying, as they are constantly scratching 

 the hands when an incautious searcher happens to stumble and tries to save himself by grasp- 

 ing at the rocks. 



A rather curious cirripeda is the CORAL-BARNACLE, which, as is evident from the material 

 on which it is supported, will only be found in those seas which are warm enough to produce 

 corals. Sometimes the growth of the coral is too rapid for the Barnacle, which is gradually 

 covered by the increasing stony deposit, and at last is actually buried deeply in the mass, 

 where it dies from starvation. The reader may remark that one of the mollusks described on 

 page 318, is also in the habit of making its residence upon coral, and were it not for a peculiar 

 adaptation of structure, would perish for the same reason. But the Magilus is able to extend 

 its shell as fast as the coral deposits fresh substance, and therefore always contrives to keep 

 itself within reach of the water. In the Pyrgoma the cone is composed of a single piece, very 

 thick, rather compressed, and open above. 



Some very strange forms of cirripedes are now presented to us. 

 One of them is figured in the illustration. The CORONET- BARNACLE, so 

 called on account of the coronet-like shape of the body, is always found 

 upon the skins of the cetacea which inhabit the Arctic Seas, such as the 

 Greenland whale and the long-armed whale (Balcenoptera longimana). 



The specimen exhibited in the illustration is represented of its 

 natural size, but Mr. Sowerby informs me that in a piece of whale skin 

 only four inches in length, no less than six specimens of this creature are CORONET . BARNACLE- _ 

 attached, all larger than that shown in the engraving. The cirripeda Baianw> erenatu. 

 does not merely adhere to the skin, but in process of time actually buries 

 itself deeply into the tissues, and would seem to cause much annoyance to the creature on 

 which it was parasitic. 



A still stranger example of these curious parasites is the BURROWING BARNACLE, which 

 sometimes are found deeply sunk into the skin of a whale. This species plants itself in the 



