IIAIU'l'S (IF THH Cbll'HALol'oDA, 6t 



not eiisilv cauiilil. By means of theii- long- arms anil snckers, 

 they could drag their bodies into very narrow crevices ; and 

 when thus fixed, it required great force to remove them. At 

 other times they darted tail first, with the rapidity of an arrow, 

 from one side of the pool to the other, at the same instant dis- 

 coloring the water with a dark ehestnut-l)i-()\vii ink. Tlicsc 

 animals also escape detection by a very extraordinary, clianicleon- 

 like power of changing their color. Tlicy appear 1o vary llic 

 tints according to the nature of the gi'ound over which they 

 pass; when in deep water, their general shade was lii'ownish 

 purple, but when placed on the land, oi- in shallow water, this 

 dark tint changed into one of a yellowish green. The color. 

 examined more carefully, was a French gray, with numei'ons 

 minute spots of In-ight yellow; the former of these \ari(Mi in 

 intensity; the latter entirely disappeared and a])peared again liy 

 turns. These changes were effected in such a manner, that 

 clouds, varying in tint between a hyacinth-red and a chestnut- 

 brown, were coiitiunally passing over the body. Any jiart being 

 sul)jected to a slight shock of galvanism, became almost black : 

 a similar effect, but in a less degree, was produced by scratching 

 the skin with a needle. These clonds or blushes, as they may be 

 called, when examined under a glass, are described as being- 

 produced by the alternate expansions and conti-aciious of minute 

 vesicles, containing variously colored fluids. 



"This cuttle-fish displayed its chameleon-like power both 

 during the act of swimming and whilst remaining stationai-y at 

 the liottom. I was much amused b}^ the various arts to escape 

 detection used l»y one individual, which seemed fulh^ aware that 

 I was watching it. Remaining for a time motionless, it M'Ould 

 then stealthily advance an inch or two. like a cat after a mouse, 

 sometimes changing its color ; it thus proceeded, till, having 

 gained a deeper part, it darted away, leaving a dusky train of 

 ink to hide the hole into whicli it had crawled. 



'• While looking for marine animals, with my head about two 

 feet above the roclv^y shore, I was more than once saluted by a 

 jet of water, accompanied l»y a slight grating noise. At first I 

 did not know what it was. but afterwards I found out that it 

 was the cuttle-fish, Avhich, though concealed in a hole, thus often 

 led me to its discovery. That it possesses the power of ejecting 



