552 



Marvels of the Universe 



THE EARL^' STAGES OF THE BARNACLE. 



In the first stage it seeks its food. In the second 

 it has no mouth. 



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AN UNUSUAL NAUPLIUS OF A BARNACLE. 



TKe Nauplius is the name of the Barnacle in the 

 first period of its existence. These long spines are 

 supposed to support it in the water. 



Allowing that point, we find that the lar\-a has 

 struck on a very marvellous protective device, for 

 under its canopy it is largely protected from the eyes 

 of its foes ; for the leaves often bear such pellets of 

 material dropped by the various leaf-feeding larvae. 

 It has been contended that the covering serves to 

 protect the larva from the sun's rays ; but I am 

 inchned to think that it is purely an instance of 

 protection by simulation of surroundings. Indeed, the 

 larvae of some species of these insects which inhabit 

 tropical America carry above them a dense mass of 

 long and curved fibres which resembles a miniature 

 bird's-nest. These fibres are likewise produced from 

 the waste products of the body ; but in some peculiar 

 manner scores of the tiny portions are joined together 

 to form threads many times the length of the body. 

 Probably in this case the simulation would be that of 

 a leaf gaU, or some similar structure. 



We may, therefore, regard this strange habit of the 

 larva as a means of protection from the eyes of birds, 

 lizards, ichneumon flies, and other foes. Its green 

 colour and bristly spines would seem to have lost 

 their function with the advent of the canopy, but 

 possibly they are still useful when occasionally the 

 covering is shaken off and renewed. 



When full-fed, this curious grub throws oif its 

 forked tail and changes into the chrysalis, but 

 remains amongst the leaves ; even then it is still 

 surrounded with spines and looks a curious object 

 while hanging to the leaf. 



There are several species of Tortoise Beetles found 

 m Great Britain, much alike in habits and mostly of 

 a dull green or brown colour, which quickly fades on 

 the death of the insect. Some tropical species, how- 

 ever, are very beautiful, retaining their colour so well 

 that they are not infi'equently mounted and used as 

 jewels. 



BARNACLES 



BY BERNARD C. WHITE 



One of Hu.xley's most popular sayings was his 

 definition of the Barnacle : "A creature that stands 

 on its head and kicks food into its mouth." But it 

 is not to be expected that such a complex organism 

 as the Barnacle can be completely summed up in so 

 few words, for our subject assumes during its career 

 three distinct forms, and in one at least of its stages it 

 is entirely unattached. Again, in another stage it has 



