CIRRHI OF BALxVNUS. 



159 



man throwing an ordinary casting-net is much 

 the same as that of the acorn-shell. If the reader 

 will refer to the plate, he will see two of these 

 creatures in the act of making their cast, and the 

 net is formed from the cirrhi from which the 

 entire class derives its name. 



Each cirrhus is found, on examination, to be 

 double, the pair springing from a single foot- 

 stalk. They are of a partially horny consistence, 

 and separated into numerous joints, each joint 

 being furnished with long stiff hairs. These hairs 

 stand out boldly from the centre, and the con- 

 sequence is, that when the whole apparatus is 

 fully extended, it forms a kind of network of 

 hairs, permitting none but the smallest substances 

 to pass between them. In the balanus, the cirrhi 

 are of a delicate white colour, and have a singu- 

 larly elegant appearance as they are alternately 

 thrown abroad and gathered together again. There 

 is hardly a prettier sight than a large stone, or 

 piece of rock, that is covered with balani, and 

 immersed in clear sea-water. Each little conical 

 shell opens at the tip, and from the aperture a 

 fairy like little hand is constantly thrust, grasping 

 at some coveted object, and then closed and v/ith- 

 drawn. There is a grace and elegance about the 

 whole movement that is not easily described. This 



