ACOEN-BAENACLES. 7 



rest of the body; the single eye has become two, 

 which are very large, and attached to the outer arms 

 of the bent processes, like the letters U Lh which are 

 seen within the thorax. 



" In this stage, the little animal searches about for 

 some suitable spot for permanent residence ; a ship's 

 bottom, a piece of floating timber, the back of a whale 

 or turtle, or the solid rock. When its selection is made, 

 the two antennae which project from the shell pour 

 out a gelatinous gum or cement, which hardens, and 

 firmly attaches them. Henceforth the animal is a 

 fixture, glued by the front of its head to its support ! 

 Another moult now takes place; the bivalve shell is 

 thrown off, with the great eyes and their LHike 

 processes, and the little cirriped is seen in its true 

 form. 



"It is now in effect a Stomapod Crustacean, at- 

 tached by its antennae, the head greatly lengthened 

 (in Lepas, &c.), the carapace composed of several 

 pieces, the legs modified into cirri, and made to exe- 

 cute their grasping movements backwards, instead of 

 forwards, and the whole abdomen obliterated, or re- 

 duced to an inconspicuous rudiment." 



But Barnacles, notwithstanding their beauty, and 

 their many curious peculiarities of structure, are un- 

 fortunately not very well suited for an Aquarium. So 

 long as they are alive, they are harmless ; but after 

 death they become dangerous to the surviving occu- 

 pants of the tank. Therefore, if you determine to 

 introduce them, do not forget to keep a sharp look 



