Curious Creatures 205 



tures they recognize as inimical only objects in motion. 

 The difference between a typical octopus and a squid 

 maybe stated tersely by saying that the first-named has 

 eight long tentacles and a short body and the second- 

 named has ten short tentacles and a long body. The 

 relative lengths of the tentacles in both forms will often 

 vary considerably, but their numbers always remain as 

 <yiven. It is because of its comparatively long arms, or 

 tentacles, that the octopus, no doubt, gets its unsavory 

 reputation; these writhing members make it the most 

 hideous and gruesome of all living things. The hard, 

 stony stare of the creature also adds much to the gen- 

 eral impression of horror that attaches to one's sight 

 of it; the visual organs of no other animal have the 

 ghoulish, terrifying expression that is in the eyes of the 

 devilfish. This weirdness is even still further accen- 

 tuated by the insinuating, tortuous movement of the 

 entire body as it crawls from place to place ; for, unlike 

 the squid, it seldom swims when It wants to travel. 

 When it does so, however, it employs its siphon and 

 also works Its way with rhythmic contractions of a web- 

 like connecting membrane between the bases of the 

 tentacles. For the most part. It remains secreted In 

 rocky crevices, there awaiting its unwary prey, but it 

 has been seen to dash out of the water for several feet 

 and scramble up the dry rocks after a fleeing crab. 

 Seldom Is there an escape of the victim, whether it be 

 fish or crustacean, when once the snaky arm, lined with 

 Its double row of sucker disks. Is shot in Its direction; 

 despite Its struggles, it is quickly pulled up to the sharp 

 nippers and dispatched. 



The female octopus Is a devoted parent. She usually 



