SCALPELLUM. 279 



thicker in proportion ; ' the handle represented by the 

 cartilaginous and flexible stalk, the blade by the com- 

 pressed valves. These vary much in regularity of form, 

 some being nearly oval, little wider than the stalk, 

 others angular and much wider. The body throws 

 itself vigorously about on the stalk, when disturbed. 

 The valves open, and out comes a widely radiating hand, 

 of brilliantly glassy fingers, the joints and comb -like 

 bristles of which glitter and sparkle as I hold it up in 

 a tumbler of sea- water, examining it with a lens, with 

 a lamp behind. It remains some seconds expanded, as 

 if enjoying contact with the water; or perhaps, if I 

 may draw inferences from some slight twitchings, feel- 

 ing and testing for the accidental presence of invisible 

 atoms that might serve it for food ; then suddenly the 

 fingers close together, and the hand is drawn in with a 

 snap, as if it had taken some prize, though the lens had 

 revealed nothing there. Soon it opens again, and 

 exhibits the same manoeuvres. A front view of the 

 hand, the bristle-like fingers radiating in all directions, 

 is a very attractive object for a low magnifying power. 

 There are several tiny ones in another group, the bodies 

 of which are not bigger than hempseed ; these make 

 their grasps apparently at random, with regular alterna- 

 tion, much as the commoner Barnacles do. 



Of these latter we have no lack, many of the rough 



