THE SEA-SIDE AND AQUAEIUM. 



so occupied (rather ruefully I must confess), I was 

 greatly startled at observing some hitherto undetected 

 peculiarity of my person. It was strangely tattoed 

 with zebra-like stripes in many places a phenome- 

 non I may briefly explain to have resulted from my 

 wrestling against the tarry sides of the boat. But 

 although the effect of that contact involved an un- 

 pleasant amount of friction, it was greatly less annoy- 

 ing than the painful condition of my feet and toes. 

 My soles were profusely bleeding, and presented an 

 appearance extremely similar to the cross-hatched 

 backgrounds of one of Mr Gilbert's wood engravings. 

 Indeed, several weeks passed before " the cut " became 

 worn down, though constant "impressions" were 

 being daily made. 



I introduce this little narrative in order to caution 

 my young friends at the sea- side against Barnacles. 

 Barnacles ? you inquire. Yes ; the knife blades that 

 so unmercifully cut into my soles were the Acorn- 

 Barnacles. 



There are very few marine animals of which spe- 

 cimens are more easily obtained than the members of 

 this family. Indeed, so profusely are they studded 

 over rocks around our shores, that one would suppose 

 a house painter had been with a white-wash brush, 

 and splashed it vigorously over every boulder. Dip 

 your hand in a pool, and seize upon a Crab (if you 

 dare), a Limpet (if you can), a Mussel, or a Buckie, and 

 the probability is, that whichever you lay hold of, has 

 one or more Barnacles immoveably fixed to its back. 



