CHAPTER II. 



OCTOPODS I HAVE KNOWN. 



The first Octopus whose habits and mode of life I had oppor- 

 tunities of observing in captivity, was one exhibited in the 

 Aquarium at Boulogne in September 1867. It was the prominent 

 subject of conversation at the tables cThofe of all the hotels there, 

 and almost the first words addressed to a new-comer were, " Have 

 you seen the devil-fish ? " It was but a miserable little imp, only 

 half matured in diablerie, and so persistently concealed itself by 

 burrowing in a considerable depth of shingle, that all that could 

 generally be seen of it was a portion of one of its arms waving 

 gently in the water. But perhaps this was quite as well as if more 

 had been visible, for it left a great deal to the imagination, and 

 was also profitable to the proprietor, because people repeated 

 their visits daily in hope of obtaining a better view of it. The 

 privilege of privately inspecting it was several times accorded to 

 me, and I then first witnessed many of the movements, ways, 

 and habits of this animal, with which I have since become 

 familiar. 



The first octopus received at the Brighton Aquarium was caught 

 in a lobster-pot at Eastbourne in October 1872, and great was the 

 joy that reigned in " London-by-the-sea." For in the state of 

 pubhc feeling then existing, an aquarium without an octopus was 

 likea plum-pudding without plums. Share-holders might construct 

 a handsome building, and stock its magnificently gigantic tanks 

 with a variety of most interesting fishes, but fashion and public 



