OCEAJT GAEDENS, ETC. 



Common Barnacle (Fentelasmis anatifera), in wMch 

 it is affirmed that the Barnacle Geese were their 

 offspring. Our old naturalist Gerard not only 

 gives a detailed account of the transformation by 

 which this wonder of the good old times was accom- 

 plished, but positively illustrates his description 

 with an engraving, in which the metamorphosis is 

 seen in progress. 



The tube-like cells of the Serpulce have some 

 resemblance to the cells of the Common Barnacle, 

 but that of the solitary Serpula, Serpula tuhularia^ 

 is much taller, often rising a foot from the substance 

 it adheres to. The fan-like feathers forming the 

 feeding, and, perhaps, also the breathing apparatus, 

 of Serpula contortuplicata^ are exceedingly rich in 

 colour, as is also the member which acts as a '^cork" 

 to the tube when the feather-like tentacles are with- 

 drawn, and which is familiarly termed the ' ' stopper ; ' ' 

 for when, on alarm, the feathers are suddenly drawn 

 in, the stopper " immediately follows, shutting up 

 the opening of the tube in a very perfect manner. 

 This organ is often of a rich orange, and the feathers 

 a brilliant scarlet, though they are sometimes pale, 

 or nearly white, as shown in Plate X. These fan- 

 like organs, termed feathers, appear to act as 

 breathing organs, by separating the oxygen from 



87 



