THE BURROWING BARNACLE. 649 



their companions. The bunches of Parrot-beaked Barnacles bear a decided resem- 

 blance to the strange cacti whose leaves are set so oddly upon each other. 



This Barnacle is gathered, or rather hewn from the rocks in large quantities, and ex- 

 ported to Valparaiso and other places, where it is held in high estimation as a delicacy 

 for the table. It is generally boiled, and eaten cold, like the common crab, and is 

 said to resemble that crustacean in general flavor. It is a South American species, 

 and is found most plentifully and of the largest size at concepcion de Chile, and the 

 best specimens are taken from a little island called Quiquirina, which lies across the 

 mouth of the bay. 



The two little specimens on the rock, just below the foot of the eared barnacle, are 

 examples of the common ACORN-BARNACLE, so plentiful on our coasts. The surface 

 of every stone and rock that is washed by the sea, the exterior of every pile of masonry 

 that is lashed by the waves, is covered with the shells of this curious little creature 

 which is extremely valuable to the naturalist, as its habits are easily studied, and from its 

 exceeding plenty any number of specimens can be obtained. They are very pretty 

 inhabitants of an aquarium, but they require peculiar conditions to keep them in health, 

 and if they die, are sure to corrupt the surrounding water to such an extent, that nearly 

 every other inhabitant of the aquarium will share their fate. Spots over which the tide 

 only runs for a few hours are thickly studded with these Barnacles, and it is interesting 

 to see how quickly they open their valves and fling out their arms as soon as the water 

 covers them at each returning tide. When the sea withdraws, they close their shells 

 firmly, and retain within their interior a sufficiency of water wherewith to carry on the 

 business of respiration until the next tide brings a fresh supply. Total submersion seems 

 to be hurtful to them. 



They are very awkward to the shore bather who does not know the coast, as the edges 

 of their shells are exceedingly sharp and knife-like, and inflict very painful scratches 

 when brought into collision with the unprotected skin. Even to those who are searching 

 on the rocks for marine curiosities the Barnacles are very annoying, as they are con- 

 stantly scratching the hands when an incautious searcher happens to stumble and tries 

 to save himself by grasping at the rocks. 



At the right-hand centre of the illustration are seen two little white dome-like objects 

 perched upon a mass of coral, and having an opening above. These are examples of 

 a rather curious cirrhipede, the CORAL-BARNACLE, which, as is evident from the material 

 on which it is supported, is only to be found in those seas which are warm enough to 

 produce the corals. Sometimes the growth of the coral is too rapid for the Barnacle, 

 which is gradually covered by the increasing stony deposit, and at last is actually buried 

 deeply in the mass, where it dies from starvation. The reader may remark that one of 

 the molluscs described on page 379, is also in the habit of making its residence upon 

 coral, and were it not for a peculiar adaptation of structure, would perish for the same 

 reason. But the Magilus is able to extend its shell as fast as the coral deposits fresh 

 substance, and therefore always contrives to keep itself within reach of the water. In 

 the Pyrgoma the cone is composed of a single piece, very thick, rather compressed, 

 and open above. 



Some very strange forms of cirrhipedes are now presented to us, and are figured on 

 the lower part of the illustration. On the left hand is seen a small group of the CORNET- 

 BARNACLES, so called on account of the cornet-like shape of the body. This species is 

 always found upon the skins of the cetacea which inhabit the Arctic Seas, such as the 

 Greenland whale and the long-armed whale (Balcsnoptera longimana). 



The specimens exhibited in the illustration are represented of their natural size, but 

 Mr. Sowerby informs me that in a piece of whale skin only four inches in length, no less 

 than six specimens of this creature are attached, all larger than those shown in the en- 

 graving. The cirrhiped does not merely adhere to the skin, but in process of time 

 actually buries itself deeply into the tissues, and would seem to cause much annoyance 

 to the creature on which it was parasitic. 



A still stranger example of these curious parasites is the BURROWING BARNACLE, two 

 figures of which are shown deeply sunk into the skin of a whale. This species plants 

 itself in the skin of the whales belonging to the Southern seas. This pest of the 



