(i2 HABITS OF THE CEPHALOPODA. 



LoUgo vulgaris. — I have observed several Calamaries of 

 moderate size ; these animals are always in motion, which is 

 rapid and jerkv. I never found them in i-epose, for thev are 

 essentially pelagic, and only ai)proach the coast to oviposit. 



The Calamary completely extends its arms and keeps a posi- 

 tion more or less obliqne, but approaching horizontal. The arms 

 are united into a single flattened mass, sharp at the summit, by 

 reason of their unecpial length ; the tentacular arms, with their 

 extremities ai)plied one to the other, form this extreme point. 



When the Calamary swims forwards, the animal takes an 

 oblique position, the head directed downward ; when it swims 

 backwards, on the contrary, the head is raised and the fins 

 depressed. In forward motion the extremity- of the tentacles is 

 bent down ; in backward motion it is raised. This ordinary 

 swimming is sensibly more rapid than that of the Sepia, but if 

 the Calamary is disquieted it is otf like a flash. Rapid motion 

 is always retrograde ; when the fins are folded up and the funnel 

 lirought into use. After having seen the rapidity with which 

 the Calamary darts through the water, I can understand how it 

 sometimes shoots ouL of the water and falls on the deck of 

 vessels. 



My Calamaries w'ould not take nourishment ; they died at tlie 

 end of a few days, without luiviug modified until the last moment 

 their halntual activity. 



Octopua vulgaris. — Tlie rouli)e is tiniid and hides itself under 

 rocks. Its arms touch the earth l>y tlieir cups, and are bent 

 lichiud ; those of the first pair are thus widely separated. Tlie 

 sack is iucurved from front to rear, and describes a curve with 

 the concavity inferior. Thus placed the animal examines all 

 that passes around it. II" one gives it something to eat, it is 

 seen to elongate slowly the lirst \)'my of arms as tar as its jn-ey, 

 and to draw it towards its mouth. I have never observed the 

 8epia eat. and consequently do not know whether it grasps its* 

 prey liy means of its tentacular arms or by the sessile arms of 

 the lirst pair. 



1 will not speak here of the changings of color in the Poulpe ; 

 they are more varied and more ra))id than those of the Sejna ; 

 and at the same time the rugosities of the head and sack api)ear 

 and disa))pear with great rapiditv. 



