82 MARINE ANIMALS. 



representing this class, altKougli in strictness it is a genus with but one 

 recognised species, namely, the Paper Nautilus, {Argonauta Argo,) of Linnceus, 

 because the forms both of that creature, the Pearly Nautilus, {Nautilus pom- 

 pilius,) and the Poulpe, or Cuttle-fish, are so extremely alike, and the mode 

 which they all have of floating in the sea, giving them the best title to that 

 appellation, signifying ''Lazy sailors." When divested of the shells, their 

 appearance is strikingly similar, and it is in fact essentially the same character 

 of animal in general formation, so far at least as to form together a class — 

 these are generally called "Cephalopods," in consequence of the head being 

 placed between the body and feet, or arms, which appear to proceed from and 

 around it, and are like so many tentacula, or feelers, and the agents whereby 

 some of the class take their prey, and all feed. 



The Paper Nautilus is the shell found with the living animal resident 

 within its precincts, and is of a most beautiful construction — white, transparent 

 and ridged, and, like shells of the same character, of a highly cellular structure. 

 It is found in abundance in the Mediten-anean, and M. Sander Rang, in 

 his pretty little work, describes minutely the habits and appearance of these 

 Molluscs. It is from him chiefly we gather the uni'omantic fact that instead 

 of sailing with outspread velamina before the breeze, they propel themselves 

 by forcibly ejecting water from the funnel, which I have before referred to; 

 or creep with their shells upon their backs, after a very inelegant and snail- 

 like manner. Madame Jeannette Power, who kept a number of these beautiful 

 creatures in what we may call a ''domestic state," has furnished some most 

 interesting particulars respecting them. For the purposes of science and to 

 clear up, if possible, the vexata questio, relative to the actual ownership of the 

 shell, Madame Power broke portions of it, and the very next morning observed 

 a gelatinous secretion covering the orifice, which being deposited from time to 

 time by the creature, the ridges were moulded and sustained in it by the 

 mantle until the substance was complete. 



The Pearly Nautilus, (Nautilus pornpilius,) is far better known by its shell 

 than the Argonauta, but, although there is little doubt that the animal itself 

 is no less common, yet its habits are such, that only one instance has occurred 

 in which the shell has been captured with the Cephalopod within it. This 

 interesting addition to natural science was made by Mr. George Bennett, near 

 the Island of Erromanga, New Hebrides, where the shell was observed floating 

 on the water, having the appearance, as was said by the sailors, of a dead 

 tortoise-shell cat, but at the moment it was approached it began to sink; in 

 the eagerness not to lose so great a prize, it was somewhat hastily seized with 

 a boat-hook, and a part of the shell broken. This, I take it, coupled with 

 the fact of so many shells being constantly met with, and not in a fossil 

 state, is sufficient to warrant the supposition advanced above, that the animal, 

 though only in one instance captured, is no less common than the other. 

 This invaluable specimen I have often seen in a state of perfect preservation 

 in spirits, at the Museum of the lloyal College of Sm*geous. Besides these, the 



