THE BURROWING BARNACLE. 
491 
three and four inches in diameter. It is found in large bunches, sometimes consisting of a 
hundred individuals, some adhering to the rocks and others to the shells of their companions. 
The bunches of Parrot-beaked Barnacles bear a decided resemblance to the strange cacti whose 
leaves are set so oddly upon each other. 
This Barnacle is gathered, or rather hewn from the rocks in large quantities, and exported 
to Valparaiso and other places, where it is held in high estimation as a delicacy for the table. 
It is generally boiled, and eaten cold, like the common crab, and is said to resemble that 
crustacean in general flavor. It is a South American species, and is found most plentifully 
and of the largest size at Concepcion de Chile, and the best specimens are taken from a little 
island called Quiquirina, which lies across the mouth of the bay. 
A creature which is found plentifully on some coasts is called the common Acoex- 
babnacle. On many coasts the surface of every stone and rock that is washed by the sea, 
the exterior of every pile of masonry that is lashed by the waves, is covered with the shells of 
this curious little creature, which is extremely valuable to the naturalist, as its habits are 
easily studied, and from its exceeding plenty any number of specimens can be obtained. 
They are very pretty inhabitants of an aquarium, but they require peculiar conditions to keep 
them in health, and if they die, are sure to corrupt the surrounding water to such an extent, 
that nearly every other inhabitant of the aquarium will share their fate. Spots over which 
the tide only runs for a few hours are thickly studded with these Barnacles, and it is interest- 
ing to see how quickly they open their valves and fling out their arms as soon as the water 
covers them at each returning tide. When the sea withdraws, they close their shells firmly, 
and retain within their interior a sufficiency of water wherewith to carry on the business of 
respiration until the next tide brings a fresh supply. Total submersion seems to be hurtful to 
them. 
They are very awkward to the shore bather who does not know the coast, as the edges of 
their shells are exceedingly sharp and knife-like, and inflict very painful scratches when 
brought into collision with the unprotected skin. Even to those who are searching on the 
rocks for marine curiosities the Barnacles are very annoying, as they are constantly scratching 
the hands when an incautious searcher happens to stumble and tries to save himself by grasp- 
ing at the rocks. 
A rather curious cirripeda is the Cobal-babxacle, which, as is evident from the material 
on which it is supported, will only be found in those seas which are warm enough to produce 
corals. Sometimes the growth of the coral is too rapid for the Barnacle, which is gradually 
covered by the increasing stony deposit, and at last is actually buried deeply in the mass, 
where it dies from starvation. The reader may remark that one of the mollusks described on 
page 318, is also in the habit of making its residence upon coral, and were it not for a peculiar 
adaptation of structure, would perish for the same reason. But the Magilus is able to extend 
its shell as fast as the coral deposits fresh substance, and therefore always contrives to keep 
itself within reach of the water. In the Pyrgoma the cone is composed of a single piece, very 
thick, rather compressed, and open above. 
Some very strange forms of cirripedes are now presented to us. 
One of them is figured in the illustration. The Coeojstet-baexacle, so 
called on account of the coronet-like shape of the body, is always found 
upon the skins of the cetacea which inhabit the Arctic Seas, such as the 
Greenland whale and the long-armed whale ( Balcenoptera longimana). 
The specimen exhibited in the illustration is represented of its 
natural size, but Mr. Sowerby informs me that in a piece of whale skin 
only four inches in length, no less than six specimens of this creature are 
attached, all larger than that shown in the engraving. The cirripeda 
does not merely adhere to the skin, but in process of time actually buries 
itself deeply into the tissues, and would seem to cause much annoyance to the creature on 
which it was parasitic. 
A still stranger example of these curious parasites is the Burrowing Barnacle, which 
sometimes are found deeply sunk into the skin of a whale. This species plants itself in the 
coronet-barnacle. 
Balanus crenatus. 
