BA'LANUS, a genus of Sessile Cirrhipeds or Barnacles, formed by Bruguieres from some species of the genus Lepas, Linn. Balanua offers a great variety of form ; but the shell will be found to consist of six valves, four of which are comparatively large, coalescing at the sides, and forming altogether a rude hollow eene, whose aperture is closed by an operculura of four valves (between the two foremost of which issue the jointed feather-like tentacula), and its base by a testaceous plate.
The genus is most widely diffused, and abounds upon almost all bodies, whether fixxl or moveable, that offer an opportunity for it to " This cirrhiped," writes Captain King, " which at Concepcion de Chile is frequently of a larger size than 51 inches long and 31 inches in diameter, forms a very common and highly-esteemed food of the natives, by whom it is called Pico, from the aeurninated processes of the two posterior opercular valves. The anterior and posterior oper cular valves, when in contact, present some resemblance to a parrot's beak, whence Molina's name. It is also found very abundantly at Valdivia and at Calbuce, near the north of the island of Chiloe. It occurs in large bunches, and presents somewhat of a cactus-like appear ance. The parent is covered by its progeny, so that large branches
are found composed of from 50 to 100 distinct individuals, each of which becomes in its turn the foundation of another colony. One specimen, in the possession of my friend W. J. Broderip, Esq., consists of a numerous group based on two large individuals. They are collected by being chopped off with a hatchet. At Concepcion, where they are found of larger size than to the southward, they are principally procured at the island of Quiriquina, which lies across the entrance of the bay ; whence they are exported in large quantities to Valparaiso and Santiago de Chile, where they are considered as a great delicacy; and indeed with s6me justice, for the flesh equals in richness and delicacy that of the crab, which, when boiled and eaten eold, it very much resembles." The spined and smooth varieties of habeas Montagui, Sowerby (Acaata Montagui, Leach), afford examples of those species which live in sponges.
Fossil Balani have been found in the later deposits, and species are recorded from the beds at Piacenza, Bordeaux, Paris, Essex, &e.