BY THE SEA. lOg 



them is composed of several pieces, nicely joined 

 and fitted together, with an opening lid on the top 

 of the cone-shaped house, through which the little 

 anchorite thrusts his hairy fingers to take the food 

 which the overwhelming and bountiful waters 

 bring him. At extreme high-water mark the 

 specimens are quite small and impoverished in 

 consequence of the brief periods in which they 

 can feed and perform that wonderful operation of 

 secreting lime from the sea water. 



Accidentally I found another species of these 

 curious crustaceans, much rarer on this part of 

 the coast. It is the "Goose Barnacle," and looks 

 more like certain mollusks than even the rock 

 species. It had drifted to the shore on a sprig 

 of sea-weed, and was attached to a frond by its 

 stout peduncle, more than a half inch long. At 

 first it resembled a tiny dam with its siphon 

 extended from its delicately-marked and porcelain- 

 like shells ; but as soon as it was dropped into the 

 jar it opened its valves and pushed out its six 

 pairs of legs, which together suggested a double- 

 fingered, finely-fringed hand, and commenced a 

 series of grasping motions. It appeared to be 

 clutching at nothing but teemless water, but 

 doubtless each time it cast its net many tasteful 

 minute sea animals were swept within the meshes, 

 besides by this movement supplying it with fresh 

 currents of water for breathing. If the water 



