the same seeming effortlessness reverse the direc- 

 tion of its course but not of its body: this latter 

 method of locomotion, however, with head and 

 arms to the fore, was less frequently observed. 



A school of killifishes to the number of perhaps 

 a score, now came upon the scene, the individuals 

 working their way in characteristic fashion along 

 the water's edge, stopping repeatedly to nibble at 

 some indistinguishable morsels which they seemed 

 eternally to find among the mussel shells. Unsus- 

 pectingly they drew near until well within strik- 

 ing range of the squids. Then a sudden panic 

 seized the small fishes, showing that they had at 

 last caught sight of their powerful enemies. They 

 dispersed in all directions, some in their effort to 

 escape hurling themselves clear out of the water, 

 others diving straight into the bottom, burying 

 themselves completely among the mussels or some 

 patch of gravel or of sand. A few, however, were 

 not so alert; and these paid the penalty of slow- 

 wittedness with their lives. The squids were among 

 them with phantom-like swiftness, their torpedo- 

 shaped bodies shooting through the water with a 

 speed far surpassing that of their prey. The slaugh- 

 ter was awful. The unfortunate fishes were each 



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