MOLLUSCA 



Fig. 33 

 Loligo pealei Leseur 



sea. It can move just as rapidly in either direction. 



The pen acts as a sort of backbone to support 

 the soft parts of the body. This pen is really the 

 shell of the animal, which has become very much 

 modified and is entirely within the body of the 

 animal. 



If the squid is in danger, it will discharge a 

 great quantity of a black fluid out of its mouth, 

 which acts like a smoke screen and enables it to 

 escape. This fluid is India ink. 



The squid is often caught off the Xew Jersey 

 coast for use as bait, It is usually found in the open 

 ocean and rarely comes within a mile or so of shore. 



Its eggs are laid in elongate jelly-like masses 

 about 3 inches long which form large clusters on 

 stones or other submerged objects. Thousands of 

 minute squid can sometimes be seen in one of these 

 masses which occasionally wash ashore in the early 

 summer. 



In some countries the squid is considered quite 

 a delicacy, but it is seldom eaten in the United 

 States. 



