loa 



'five articulations decreaeing in size towards tlic 

 tail. Its feet are usually drawn up near the 

 iiead, but when extended have the appearance of 

 so many floating roots ; like those of other cuttle 

 fish, they are furnished with suckers, but so 

 small as to be scarcely discernible. The head is 

 misshapen, and supplied M^ith two antennae, or 

 trunks. The black liquor is contained in a little 

 bladder or vesicle, common to all the genus, and 

 is very good for writing. The animal, when 

 taken in the naked hand, produces a slight de- 

 gree of numbness, which is not, however, at- 

 tended with any disagreeable consequences. 



Of the urchins, or sea-eggs, there are several 

 species, but the principal are the white and the 

 black. The white urchin (echinus albus) is of 

 a globular form, and about three inches in dia- 

 ineter; the shell and spines are white, but the 

 interior substance is yellowish, and of an excel' 

 J.ent taste. The black urchin (echinus niger) is 

 i\ little larger than the white, and of an oval 

 form; the exterior and the eggs are black ; it 

 is called the devil's hedge-hog, and is never 

 eaten. 



Of the cisss of vermes, or worms, the order 

 of testacei are most abundant in Chili ; the sea 

 5hore being covered with all khnh of shells, of 

 wliiili several hills are formed, from whence the 

 inhabitants coilect great quantities for lime. I 

 ;iave no doubt that among them might be dis- 



