and sinking within its shell, devours it at leisure; twelve of these feelers are smaller than the rest, and being more pliant, are thought to perform the office of hands.

There is another kind of Barnacle, called the Goose Barnacle, which deserves to be noticed, on account of a mistaken notion pre. vailing amongst the ignorant, that the bird called the Barnacle Goose was not produced like other birds from an egg, but from the shell fish, we have mentioned. This error, absurd as it appears, was not confined to the ignorant, but seems to have been believed by persons who ought to have viewed objects of this nature with other eyes. It was supposed by them, that the inhabitant of the shell was a young bird, which having grown sufficiently, freed itself from the confinement of its shell, and dropped into the water below. Amongst others who held this opinion, was Gerard, the celebrated naturalist, and his account is so curious, that we shall give it in his own words:-" But what our eyes have seen, and hands have touched, we shall declare: There is a small island in Lancashire, (on the western coast of England,) called "The Pile of Flanders," wherein are found broken pieces of old and bruised ships, some whereof have been cast thither by shipwreck; and also the trunks and bodies, with the branches of old rotten trees, cast up there likewise; whereon is found a certain froth, that in time breedeth into cer

tain shells, in shape like those of a muscle, but sharper pointed, and of a whitish colour. One end whereof is fastened unto the inside of the shell, even as the fish of oysters and muscles, and the other end is made fast unto the belly, of a rude mass, which in time cometh to the shape and form of a bird. When it is perfectly formed, the shell gapeth open, and the first thing that appeareth, is the aforesaid lace or string; next come the legs of the bird, hanging out, and as it groweth greater, it openeth the shell by degrees, till at length it has all come forth, and hangeth by the bill; in a short space after, it cometh to full maturity, and falleth into the sea, when it gathereth feathers, and groweth to a fowl, bigger than a mallard, and less than a goose, having black legs and bill, and feathers black and white spotted, in such a manner as our magpie, which the people of Lancashire call by no other name than Tree Goose; which in this place, and places adjoining, do so much abound, that one of the best is bought for three pence. For the truth of this, if any doubt, may it please them to repair to me, and I shall satisfy them by the testimony of good wit

nesses."

The body of the Lepas, or Goose Barnacle, is oval. The mouth consists of a long trunk, and is surrounded by twelve long feathers, arms, or feelers, which hang out from the mouth of the shell, and no doubt give rise to the mistake

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opinion we have mentioned-the feelers being thought to resemble the feet and wings of a bird. It is found sticking in clusters to the bottom of ships, and sometimes to floating pieces of timber, which are washed on shore. In this latter state, it was found not long since, by the fishermen of Baldoyle, who exhibited it for money in Dublin, as the Barnacle Goose, in its young state.

THE RAZOR FISH.

THIS shell fish is provided with a habitation shaped like the handle of a razor, and therefore well adapted for assisting the animal in penetrating the sand in which it resides; just over the place where the razor buries itself. there is a small hole like a chimney, through which the animal breathes, or draws in the sea water. Upon the desertion of the tide, these holes are easily distinguished by the fishermen, who seek for it; and their method of enticing the razor up from its retreat is, by sprinkling a little sea salt upon the hole. This melting, no sooner reaches the razor below, than it rises instantly straight upwards, and shews about half its length above the surface. Its appearance is however momentary, and if the fisherinan does not seize the opportunity, the razor buries itself with great ease to its former depth;

there it continues secure. No salt can allure it a second time-but it remains unmolested, unless the fisher will be at the trouble of digging it out, sometimes two feet below the surface. In England, the razor fish is chiefly used for bait, but in Ireland, it is eaten, and is said to be nearly as rich and palatable as the lobster.

These animals are not provided with the means of leaving the spot where they are placed, though they are furnished with a tongue, which amply fits them for their ordinary motions, and is perhaps one of the most curious of Nature's works. This instrument, so necessary for the animal's safety and support, is fleshy, round, and rather long; it is pushed through the end of the shell, whenever the animal has occasion to use it, and its extremity is capable of being formed into different shapes, according to the use required; when it is to cut a hole in the sand, it takes the form of a shovel, ending in a point, and afterwards can assume that of a hook, by which it takes a firmer hold, and buries itself to the desired depth. When the little workman has occasion to return to the surface, in search of food, the end of the tongue now has the shape of a knob, which it presses against the bottom of the hole, and pushes itself to the top.

FINIS.

Price bound in Sheep, eight-pence.—in Grain, sixpence