MOLLUSCS 



109 



bladders being still imported annually to this country 

 from Italy. 



Squids and Cuttlefish are highly predaceous, the former 

 living largely upon fish, the latter preferring crustaceans. 

 They swim backwards by ejecting water from the syphon, 

 but can also paddle forwards by undulating movements 

 of their side fins. They are largely gregarious, often 

 congregating in immense shoals which manoeuvre with 



Cuttlefish {Sepia) 



almost military uniformity. Whilst the backward darting 

 " flight " can be maintained at high speed for a long time, 

 it not infrequently causes the animal's undoing, resulting 

 in its being cast helplessly ashore. 



An astonishing variety of changes have been rung upon 

 the accepted Squid pattern as the result of varying environ- 

 ment and adaptation to special needs. The long arms 

 may be ten times the length of the animal, or the webs 

 uniting the bases of the short arms may be extended to 



