ECH 
tiie destruction of the fish itself. As the 
remora is extremely voracious, and far 
from fastidious in its food, it may attach it- 
self to vessels and large fishes, with a view 
to secure that ample subsistence which must 
arise to it from the superfluity with which 
it is in such circumstances almost inevitably 
furnished. This fish will often adhere to 
rocks, and particularly in boisterous and 
tempestuous weather. The apparatus for 
accomplishing this adhesion, consists of an 
oval area on the top of the head, traversed 
by numerous dissepiments, each of which 
is fringed at the edge by a row of very 
numerous perpendicular teeth, or filaments, 
while the w'hole oval spaee is strengthened 
by a longitudinal septum. It is reported 
by some authors, that, in the Mozambique 
channel, a species of remora is employed 
by the natives of the coast in their pin suit 
of turtles with great success. A ring is 
fixed near the tail of the remora with a 
long cord attached to it, and when the boat 
has arrived as nearly as it well can to the 
turtle sleeping on the surface of the water, 
the remora is dismissed and immediately 
proceeds towards the turtle, which it fas- 
tens on so firmly, that both are drawn into 
tJie boat with extreme facility. For a re- 
presentation of the Mediterranean remora, 
see Pisces, Plate IV. fig. 3., 
ECHINOPIIORA, in botany, a genus 
of the Pentandria Digynia class and order. 
Natural order of UrabellataB, Essential 
character: lateral flowers male; central 
hermaphrodite ; seed one, immersed in an 
involucel. There are two species, vie. E. 
spinosa, prickley sea-parsnip, and E. ten- 
uifolia, Sine-leaved sea-parsnip. Natives of 
the sea coast of Europe and Apulia. 
ECHINOPS, in botany, globe thistle, 
a genus of the Syngenesia Polygamia Seg- 
regata class and order. Natural order of 
Composita; Capitatce. Cinarocephalse, Jus- 
sieu. Essential character : calyx one-flow- 
ered ; corolla tubular, hermaphrodite ; re- 
ceptacle bristly; down obscure. There 
are five species. These are herbaceous 
plants, some of them large and lofty ; leaves 
alternate, thorny qnd pinnatified ; the heads 
of flowers are usually solitary at the end of 
the stem and branches. 
ECHINORYNCHUS, in natural history, 
a genus of the Vermes Intestina ; body 
round ; proboscis cylindrical retractile, and 
crowned with hooked prickles. These 
animals are found fixed very firmly to the 
viscera of various animals, generally the 
intestines; and often remain on the same 
ECH 
spot during the whole life of the animal ; 
they are mostly gregarious, and are easily 
distinguished from the tmnia by their round 
inarticulate body. They are divided into 
sections : A. infesting mammalia, of this E. 
gigas is found in the intestines of sw ine, es- 
pecially those that have been fed in styes : 
it is gregarious, and from 12 to 18 inches 
long. B. infesting birds. C. infesting rep- 
tiles, D. infesting fish. There ate about 
50 species. 
ECHINUS, sea-urchin, in natural liis- 
tory, a genus of the Vermes Mollusca ; 
body roundish, covered with a bony sutured 
crust, and generally furnished with movea- 
ble spines; mouth placed beneath, and 
mostly five-valved. These are divided into 
sections, chiefly distinguished by the situa- 
tion of the vent. A. has the vent vertical ; 
tentacula every where simple. B. vent 
placed beneath ; mouth without tentacula. 
C. vent lateral; mouth with pencilled ten- 
tacula. Each of these sections are subdi- 
vided. There are more than 100 species, 
besides varieties. They are all inhabitants 
of the sea, and many of them have been 
found in a fossil state ; many are esculent, 
and they are in general armed with five 
sharp teeth ; the pores are each furnished 
with a retractile tentaciduin, by which the 
animal affixes itself to any object and stops 
its motion; the spines are connected tu 
the outer skin by very strong ligaments, 
and are the instruments of motion. 
ECHITES, in botany, a genus of the 
Pentandria Monogynia class and order. 
Natural order of Contortas. Apocineae, Jus- 
sieu. Essential character : contorted ; fol- 
licles two, long and straight ; seeds downy ; 
corolla funnel form, with the throat naked. 
There are twenty-two species. These 
plants have something singular in their ha- 
bit which proclaims them at first sight. 
The nectareous glands, and the downy 
seeds in follicles, are of great importance 
in determining the character; whilst tiie 
corolla, varying much in the different spe- 
cies, is of no consequence in this respect. 
The stigmas in all are glued to the inside 
wall of the cone formed by the anthers, 
and which separates at the explosion of the 
pollen, whilst the outer wall of the cone 
continues undissolved ; the fecundation in 
the greater part being accomplished within 
the closed tube of the corolla, but in the 
rest within the cone stretched beyond the 
tube. These plants are mostly inhabitants 
of the West Indies. They Imve not yef 
been introduced into cultivation in Europe, 
