The _Echinus sphæra_, or common Egg-Urchin, may often be seen forming a curious ornament in the drawing-rooms of the "West End," and also in the dwellings of the poorer classes, who, according to some authors, boil it like eggs, and so eat it. Hence its popular title. Among the ancients the Echinidæ were accounted a favourite dish. 'They were dressed with vinegar, honied wine or mead, parsley and mint. They were the first dish in the famous supper of Lentulus when he was made Flamen Martialis. By some of the concomitant dishes they seemed designed as a whet for the second course to the holy personages, priests and vestals, invited on the occasion.' The illustration on Plate 10 was drawn from a living specimen, and gives a somewhat unusual representation of a Sea-Urchin. In general the spines alone are shown, but I have endeavoured to give the uninitiated reader some faint notion of the appearance which the _suckers_ present when extended from the surface of the shell. The young Urchin sat very quietly while I was engaged in taking his portrait, but continually extended crowds of his slender tubular legs in all directions, as above indicated, much to my gratification and apparently to his own. In preparing a Sea-Urchin for a chimney ornament, the most important point is to remove the spines so as to let the tubercles remain entire. In performing this operation some little experience is necessary. Several times I attempted the process by aid of a pen-knife and a pair of pliers, but not with a satisfactory result. Having mentioned my difficulty to a friend, he laughingly asked me if I had ever heard of a certain pilgrim who, for some peccadillo he had committed, was doomed to perform penance by walking to Loretto's shrine with peas in his shoes? Of course I was acquainted with the story, but could not see what it had to do with Sea-Urchins, and told my brother naturalist so. Still smiling, he said, 'Do you remember the relief that was said to be afforded to the humorous rascal, both mentally and bodily, by _boiling his peas_?' Yes. 'Well, then,' was the reply, 'do you boil your Sea-Eggs, and you will find your troubles speedily cease.' I did as I was directed, and found the advice of great service; for, after being an hour or two in the 'pot,' the spines of the Urchin may be totally rubbed off by aid of a nail brush, or some such instrument. Moreover, the colour of the shell is improved, and the dental apparatus may be drawn out entire, with the greatest ease. I may here take opportunity to mention, that the student who may think proper to act upon the hint above given, should not boil the Urchin too long, or the fleshy parts will become dissolved, and the entire shell fall into a multitude of fragments. This unfortunate result actually happened on one occasion to a genial, clever friend of mine, much to his chagrin and my malicious delight.