io6 TROPIC DAYS 



lie embedded and strongly anchored in the sand. A 

 typical example may weigh over seven pounds. So big 

 and weighty a shell can scarcely be sensible of its 

 invariable burden of parasites and other encumbrances 

 — but the variety of such tenants never fails to excite 

 curiosity. That which is illustrated accommodated 

 another oyster of delicate texture, a thorny clam (which 

 has the reputation of being poisonous), a mass of sea- 

 weed, a serpentine mollusc, two species of coral — the 

 red organ-pipe and a mushroom — three burrowing 

 crabs, besides a number of smaller animals, fixed and 

 mobile, in addition to the congregation of less obvious 

 life critical examination would undoubtedly have 

 revealed. 



Most species of univalves are wanderers, many 

 bivalves are free, and multivalves become fixed at an 

 early stage of existence. The goose-necked barnacle, 

 with its five valves, comes in its myriads attached to 

 derelict coco-nuts, floating logs, and pumice-stone. The 

 species owes its name to the fabulous belief that it was 

 the preliminary state of the barnacle goose of the Arctic 

 regions, the filaments representing the plumage and the 

 valves the wings. It has been found on shells, whales, 

 turtles, and marine snakes. 



In the mud close to the edge of the beach sand one 

 of the most singular of marine animals exists, and often 

 its empty, horny, flexible, semi-transparent shell, always 

 tinted green, may be found. It is known in some works 

 as Lingula auatina, and by the natives of this Isle, by 

 whom a certain part of it is eaten, as "Mill-ar-ing." A 

 pinhole in the mud indicates the presence of the animal, 

 and the hungry black boy, thrusting his hand with out- 

 spread fingers below it, closes the fingers and withdraws 

 anything but an inviting morsel. To the tongue-shaped 

 sheU is attached a pedicle or stalk, attaining a length 



