conceivable from the fact that females are found 

 with spermatophores sufficiently numerous to sup- 

 ply an entire season's deposit of eggs, and from 

 the additional fact of finding adult males with 

 spermeries exhausted early in the summer, that no 

 more than a single mating was necessary to insure 

 fertile eggs for the rest of the year. But what con- 

 struction can be put upon this species of behavior 

 that now presents itself? 



I recollect most vividly all that I have ever read 

 and heard coming from other observers regarding 

 this and its related phenomena: ranging from sci- 

 entific reports to fishermen's tales of how these 

 creatures precipitate themselves by thousands 

 upon the beach to perish or how they singly have 

 been seen to sail like flying-fish over long distances 

 in the air. And I frown inwardly as I reflect that 

 the most improbable and absurd theory to account 

 for this singular action has been advanced by the 

 scientists themselves. For according to my brethren 

 of the books, the squid is presumed to throw itself 

 out of the water because it is attracted by the 



moon! 



An explanation of those instances wherein this 



[35o] 



