INTRODUCTION. x^ 



eight out-growths from its trunk — the type of an Octopus, which 

 is really capable of rapidly developing afresh, and replacing by 

 new ones, one or all of its eight limbs in case of their being 

 amputated or injured."' According to the legend, Hercules dipped 

 his arrow-heads in the gall of the hydra, and, from its poisonous 

 nature, all the wounds he inflicted with them on his enemies 

 proved fatal. It is worthy of notice that the ancients attributed 

 to the Octopus the possession of a similarly venomous secretion. 

 Thus Oppian writes : — 



*' The crawling preke a deadly juice contains, 

 Injected poison fires the wounded veins." 



Fishermen have been familiar with this animal from time 

 immemorial; but in modern days, although naturalists have 

 occasionally noted some pecuHarities of its structure and habits, 

 public attention was never particularly attracted to it until^ 

 within the last few years, Victor Hugo brought it again into 

 notice by the publication of his ^^ Lcs Travail kars de la McrT 

 Since then it has been constantly exhibited in aquaria, and. 

 " Octopus " has become a household word. 



* See page 49. 



