They make a fine net, in which minute animals are caught and
brought into the mouth below. This funny creature actually kicks its
food into its mouth! If you own a magnifying glass, you can see this for
yourself at the seaside.
You will not be able to see the mouth, however, which is inside the
shell. It is fitted with moving parts, and feelers, like the mouth of a
crab. Also, the Barnacle has a good set of teeth to grind its food. It
has no real eyes, having no use for them. Of what use are eyes to an
animal standing on its head in a small dark shell! Now and then it casts
its coat (like the Crab and Shrimp). The old coat is rolled up and
thrown away outside the door.
Now comes the strangest thing of all. As a baby, the Barnacle is a free
swimming creature. It has three pairs of legs, a tail, a useful mouth,
and one eye. After kicking about in the sea for some time, and changing
its skin, it changes its shape entirely. It now looks more like a tiny
mussel. It has two little "shells," two eyes, legs, and feelers. Now its
swimming days are nearly over, and it must settle down.
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