150 BARNACLE GEESE. 



land, and over the west of England was, that the 

 shells grew upon certain trees, and in process of time 

 opened of themselves ; whereupon a certain ani- 

 mated substance contained within the shell dropped 

 down, and according to the place where it fell 

 perished or fructified. By falling into the water it 

 grew to be a fowl ; but by falling upon land the vital 

 principle became extinct. 'The fowls which resulted 

 from the more fortunate contingency were called 

 Barnacle Geese in Scotland, and Brant, or Tree Geese 

 in England. This delusion appears to have arisen 

 from the fact of Barnacles having been found in 

 great abundance on trunks and even branches of 

 trees long submerged in the sea.* Bishop Hall thus 

 alludes to the popular notion in his Satires : 



' Hig father dead I tush, no, it was not he; 

 He finds records of his great pedigree; 

 And tells how first his famous ancestor 

 Did come in long since with the Conqueror. 

 Nor hath some bribed herald first assigned 

 His quartered arms, and crest of gentle kind ; 

 The Scottish Barnacle, if I might choose, 

 That of a worme, doth waxe a winged goose.' 



* Vide author's ' Seaside and Aquarium.' 



