254 



THE SEA SHORE 



disturbed it suddenly ejects this fluid, rendering the surrounding 

 water so cloudy that it is often enabled to retreat unobserved. The 

 ' ink ' of the Sepia was used for writing in former times, and is still 

 employed in the preparation of the artist's pigment that bears the 

 same name. Fishermen are well acquainted with this peculiar 

 characteristic of the animal, for they are frequently bespattered 



FIG. 187. EGGS OF Sepia 



with the contents of the ink bag of the Sepia when the creature 

 is included in the contents of their draw-nets, and have learnt 

 to handle it cautiously until the objectionable fluid has been all 

 discharged. 



We will conclude this chapter by giving a tabular summary of 

 the classification of the molluscs which will probably be useful to 

 the collector of marine objects. 



