MOLLUSCS 



III 



complement of some two thousand four hundred suckers 

 per animal. 



The largest examples come from Australian waters, the 

 giant Polypus punctatus having a span of some forty feet. 

 The majority, however, are much smaller, the Common 



Common Octopus (Polypus) 



Octopus, a summer visitor to our shores, rarely exceeding 

 8 ft. across the outspread tentacles. 



Even to-day with a wealth of accurate popular natural 

 history always available, the Octopuses are persistently 

 misrepresented and any extravagant invention finds ready 

 acceptance. That there may be some danger incurred 

 by bathers coming in contact with large specimens is 

 possible, but the danger is largely due to psychological 



