il/r. Bennett on a peculiar Froperty of a Species of Echinus. 75 



occupies it, and so deep as to embrace more than two-thirds 

 of the bulk of its animal inhabitant. They are large enough 

 to admit of the animal rising in them a little, but not of its 

 coming out easily ; and their depth is in several considerably 

 increased by the deposition, around their upper circumference, 

 of a species of coralline several lines in thickness, and by a 

 thin layer of which they are frequently lined throughout. In 

 common with all the other species, the Echini inhabiting these 

 cells have their mouths invariably downwards ; and they adhere 

 by their numerous suckers so firmly to the lodgements they have 

 formed, as to be forced, with extreme difficulty, from them 

 when alive. 



" The coast of the county of Clare," Mr. Humphreys informs 

 me, " at Milltown Malbay, and indeed from the mouth of the 

 Shannon northward to the isles of Arran, is without a harbour, 

 and, except a few bays of fine sand, presents to the eye the most 

 majestic cliffs. Wherever the rocks project into the sea, so as 

 to form ledges accessible at low water, protected in front by 

 higher rocks, and which are never left entirely dry, these ledges 

 are perforated by the Echini; and I have seen thousands of 

 them lying in these cavities side by side. The largest which I 

 saw thus imbedded were about three inches in diameter ; and 

 the few that I perceived out of their nidi were dead. All that I 

 thus observed were of the same species. The fishermen some- 

 times take the common Echinus in their lobster-pots, but these 

 are never lodged in the rock. I have been lately informed that 

 they lodge in a similar manner in the rocks about Berehaven 

 and Bantry in the west of our county (Cork), and I shall endea- 

 vour to obtain further information respecting their habits from 

 thence." 



The animal whose interesting habits have formed the subject of 



L 2 the 



