164 



SEA-SHORE LIFE 



are no tins, and no trace of a shell in the adult. When full grown 

 the arms are each about two feet long. In the male the third arm 

 on the right hand side is curiously modified for sexual purposes, 

 and is cast off and adheres to the female during the breeding 

 season. 



Another species of Octopus, (0. hairdiij is found in deep water 

 off the New England coast, but it is not often met with. A good 

 figure of it taken from Verill is given in the " Riverside Natural 

 History," Vol. I, p. 371. 



The Paper Nautilus, ( Argonauta, Fig. 117 J. Several closely 

 related species of Argoriauta are found in the tropical parts of the 



Atlantic and Pacific 

 Oceans. Occasionally 

 the creatvire is drifted 

 northward upon the 

 Gulf Stream, and may 

 be cast up upon the 

 southern Long Island 

 coast. The female has 

 eight sucker-bearing 

 arms, which resemble 

 those of the Octopus, 

 excepting that the front 

 pair of arms end each 

 in a large, flat expan- 

 sion. These expanded 

 parts secrete a delicate capsule which bears an accidental resem- 

 blance to a beautifully-sculptured shell, although it is not compar- 

 able with the shell of other moliusks. It is not attached to the body, 

 and may be even cast off, and serves merely to contain the eggs dur- 

 ing the breeding season. These eggs are laid in grape-like clusters 

 enclosed in delicate capsules. The six tapering arms may also be 

 thrust within the cavity of the capsule while the Argonaut swims 

 backward, being propelled by jets of water from the siphon. 



During the breeding season the females are found swimming 

 at the surface, but at other times they appear to live in the depths. 

 Beautiful colors play over the creature as it swims about, and the 

 shell, while in the water, is very soft and flexible. 



Fig. 117 ; PAPER NAUTILUS. From the Tropical Pacific. 



