Metamorphosis of the Barnacle . 277 
In tlieir description of this foule: so that I am now fullie persuaded 
that it is either the barnacle that is ingendred after one maner in these 
sliels, or some other sea-foule to us as yet unknowen. For by the 
feathers appearing and forme so apparent, it cannot be denied, but that 
some bird or other must proceed of this substance, which by falling 
from the sides of the ships in long voiages,may come to some perfection.” 
{Hoi inshed , vol. i. p. 67.) 
Dii Bartas puts into verse tlie theory of the various 
transformations of this bird 
“ So, slowe Bootes underneath him sees, 
In th’ ycie iles, those goslings hatch t of trees ; 
Whose fruitfull leaves, falling into the water, 
Are turn’d (they say) to living fowls soon after. 
So, rotten sides of broken ships do change 
To barnacles ; 0 transformation strange! 
’Twas first a green tree, then a gallant hull, 
Lately a mushroom, now a flying gull.” 
(Page 58.) 
Before we find fault with our ancestors for their 
credulity in regard to matters now clearly understood by 
us, it will be well to consider if we ourselves are not daily 
making mistakes almost as ridiculous, mistakes which 
the enlightenment of after ages will have to correct. 
Mr. Harting inquires, “ When men of education are so 
credulous, how can we wonder at the superstitions of the 
illiterate ? ” Surely the resemblance of a barnacle to a 
young bird was strong enough to justify the idea, in the 
.absence of any other suggestion, that there was some 
connexion between them. Nor must we forget that only 
within quite recent times have our men of science made 
the discovery that the infant cirripedia are very different 
in appearance from their parents. Instead of being 
.affixed to rocks or ships, they possess and use organs for 
locomotion, and move rapidly through the water. A 
•strange similarity caused our ancestors to confuse the 
barnacle with the bird ; a curious difference has till 
recently prevented our contemporaries from recognizing 
