7G ARGONAUT A. 



himself to tlie surface of the sea by ejcctuig i4 

 (|UantitY of water, and thus diminishing the specific 

 gravity of his vesseh When floating in a calm, he 

 would throw out two or more tentacula, to serve 

 as oars. If a favouring breeze sprung up, he would 

 stretch a fine membranaceous sail on two extended 

 limbs, and, steering with his other arms, show his 

 readv skill in naval tactics, by numberless evolutions 

 with his fragile bark. On the approach of danger, 

 he would suddenly haul in his tackle, and, bya rapid 

 absorption of the water, betake himself to the se- 

 curity of the fathomless abyss, liis native dwelling. 

 On account of this talent of quickly discerning and 

 avoiding his pursuers, the sagacious little mariner 

 is seldom taken in the act of sailing, but is usually 

 fished up upon rocky shores, or entangled in the 

 nets of fishermen at sea. 



One species, the rare and beautiful A. Vitreus, 

 has sometimes been placed among Patellae, but, 

 surely, with little judgment. It has, also, been 

 made to form a new genus, but without necessity, 

 for it answers correctly to the Linntean definition 

 of Argonauta, and moreover possesses the promi- 

 nent characteristic^ the dentate keel. 



