492 THE XENOBALANUS. 
skin of the whales belonging to the Southern seas. This pest of the cetaceans is nearly 
cylindrical in shape, and remarkable for a series of raised rings, which surround it like the 
hoops upon a barrel. As the creature increases in age, it also increases in length, and adds 
ring after ring, in proportion to the depth of its imbedment in the skin. The Burrower- 
barnacle is found in great numbers, and actually studs the whale’s skin with its shells. Not 
only does the skin suffer from their presence, but the blubber is also infested by them, as they 
often pass completely through the skin, and sink deeply into the fatty tissues beneath. 1 
have seen several fine examples of these sunken cirripedes, and could not but admire the 
wonderful adaptation of their structure to their mode of living. 
Barnacles were collected and arranged as multivalve shells formerly. They are subdivided 
and embraced under several orders, among which the Protolepas, Cryptophialus, and Alcippe 
are known. 
Members of the family Zepadide are numerous on our coast. The Conchoderma virgata 
is a curious form, often found on floating stuff in our waters. They have fleshy stalks by 
which they fasten to floating débris. Lepas is a familiar genus. 
Family Balanide includes more species than others. The Acorn-barnacles are numerous. 
Species are found attached to sea-turtles and sluggish fishes. Coronulas are found on whales. 
Xenobalanus is found on turtles and the black-fish dolphin. 

