No. 6(l92l) COMMON MOLLUSCS OF SOUTH INDIA 



199 



and a greyish yellow pallor suffuses the body. Crabs are the 

 favourite food of the Octopus, l)ut they will also open bivalves, 

 and fishes are occasionally caught by the cruel snake-like, sucker- 

 beset arms. 



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Everywhere along the East Coast several species of small 

 Octopus are abundant. They abound in the weedy shallows of 

 Palk Bay where they are known to the fishermen under the names 

 of Sa kauavai, Pey kaiiavai and Sangn kanavai. They are in keen 

 demand by line fishermen as they make the best bait known to 



