6 THE OCTOPUS. 



The female octopus not being furnished with a shell, none of 

 her arms are modified in form, like those of the argonaut, for the 

 purpose of secreting and holding one. The male octopus, also 

 unlike the male argonaut, is as large as the female, but may easily 

 be distinguished from her by his having numerous tubercles and 

 papillae on the skin, which become very prominent when he is 

 irritated or excited. D'Orbigny, not recognizing this peculiarity 

 as sexual, regarded it as a specific distinction, and made of the 

 male octopus a separate species, O. ttihcrculatus. 



Having briefly explained the generic history and relationship of 

 the octopus, I propose to introduce to the reader some members 

 of the family with whom I have been on friendly terms. A former 

 casual acquaintance with some of their kinsfolk at the sea-side, 

 ripened, afterwards, into a close and prolonged intimacy with 

 them in their home ; and I thus obtained an insight of their 

 habits and peculiarities, many of which are very curious and 

 interesting. 



