298 SUPPLEMENT 
that it is only at the moments of a calm that these octopi or 
argonauts navigate thus, and that as soon as any danger me- 
naces them they sink their skiff, overset it, and fall to the 
bottom of the water. But they do not agree respecting the 
manner in which their organization allows of this kind of na- 
vigation, or even the mode of it, so that in fact they appear to 
be in the same predicament as most of the moderns, who 
never themselves have had the good fortune to behold this 
elegant method of sailing on the surface of the waters. In 
fact, though M. L’Abbé Ranzani has proposed a rectification 
of the text of Aristotle, a little after the manner of the ancient 
commentators, who, by adding, retrenching, or modifying the 
words of which they have need, necessarily arrive at the sense 
which they desire, it is evident that this celebrated philo- 
sopher speaks of a fine membrane, like a spider’s web, which 
is found between the arms, like the membrane which unites 
the toes of ducks. This is exactly what is found in the com- 
mon octopi. Pliny also mentions the thing too clearly to 
admit of a doubt: he says, however, that the membrane exists 
between two of the arms only. He adds a tail, so that the 
animal is completely equipped with sails, oars, and helm. 
félian, Athenzus, and Oppian, though they have a little mo- 
dified what Aristotle has said respecting this navigating oc- 
topus, rather follow him than Pliny, since they say nothing 
about the tail. Belon, Rondelet, Gesner, Aldrovandus, and 
his abridger Jonston, although most of them lived on the coast 
of the Mediterranean, did never themselves observe these na- 
vigating animals; accordingly, all that they say concerning 
them is drawn from Aristotle and other ancient writers. They 
have done the same as to the mode of navigation. As to the 
figure which they have given, it is exact as far as the shell 
goes; but that of the animal which inhabits it, is either solely 
the product of their own imagination or taken from an animal 
altogether different from the one that is usually found there. 
, eed. SP. .. 
oe Meet 
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