THE ATLANTIC OOE^VN. 171 



of shallow cells exquisitely regular in their size, 

 shape, and arrangement, which are tenanted each 

 by a minute animalcule. Attached to the weed are 

 groups of little Barnacles {Lepas), from the size of 

 a pin's head to half an inch in length. While under 

 water these are incessantly projecting and retracting 

 the elegant curled apparatus of cirri with which 

 they are furnished, resembling a plume of feathers ; 

 from which resemblance it probably was that the 

 inhabitants of a species found on the Scottish coast 

 were asserted to be " of that nature to be finally by 

 nature of seas resolved into geese."* The purpose 

 of this continual motion of the fringed arms appears 

 to be twofold ; first, to make a constant eddy in the 

 surrounding water, and thus bring minute animals 

 within reach, and then to enclose such as are brought 

 in as by the cast of a net, and convey them to the 

 mouth. Crawlinir on the surface of the weed we 

 may now and then find a nimble little Crab (Lupa), 

 with the shell on each side projecting horizontally 

 into a sharp spine. We arc surprised at first to find 

 a Crab on the surface of the Ocean, as the species 

 with which we are familiar have not the power of 

 swimming. On endeavouring to procure one for 

 examination, however, we no sooner touch the frag- 

 ment of weed with the boat-hook, than the watchful 

 little Crab hurries off into the water, and swims 

 rapidly away out of reach. If we be fortunate 

 enough to secure one by skilful manoeuvring with 

 the bucket or a dip-net, we shall discover a peculiar 

 structure, by means of which these Ocean-crabs are 



• Boece, Cosmography of Albioun. Edin. about 1541. 



