CEPHALOPODA. 



297 



conical fleshy tentacles, of various length in different 



species, but of great strength, capable of being bent 



in every direction, and, moreover, armed with suckers 



or adhesive disks, whereby they become firmly fixed 



to any object embraced in tlieir snake-like folds. 



By means of these 



^ feet,'' or tentacles, the 



animal is enabled to 



seize upon its prey, to 



walk, and even to 



swim. It swims back- 

 wards, and walks 



equally Avell in any 



direction, carrying its 



head close to the ground 



and its body upwards. 



The water taken in for 



the purpose of respira- /^, 



tion is forcibly ejected 



through a fleshy funnel 



situated in the front of 



its neck. The mouth 



is situated in the centre 

 of the circle of feet, 

 and is furnished with 

 two horny jaws, resem- 

 bling in their shape the 

 beak of a pai-rot. With- 

 in the mouth is a 

 tongue, studded with 

 liorny spines, whereby 

 the food is passed into the throat. 



These animals are provided with a peculiar inky 

 fluid of intense blackness, which they are able to 

 eject in great abundance through the siphonal tube, 

 thus darkening the surrounding water to a consider- 

 able distance ; and their skin is endowed witli a 

 capability of changing its colour more remarkable 

 than even that of the chameleon. 



The Cephalopods are cruel and voracious, and from 



3 



Fig. 237.— cuttle. 



