CEPHALOPODA. 63 
Mr. Beale’s arm, which he had previously bared to 
the shoulder for the purpose of thrusting it into 
holes in the rocks after shells, and clung with its 
suckers to it with great power, endeavouring to 
get its beak, which Mr. Beale could now see, be- 
tween the roots of its arms, in a position to bite. 
Mr. Beale declares that a sensation of horror per- 
vaded his whole frame, when he found that this 
monstrous animal had fixed itself so firmly on his 
arm. He describes its cold slimy grasp as ex- 
tremely sickening; and he loudly called to the 
captain, who was also searching for shells at some 
distance, to come and release him from his disgust- 
ing assailant. The captain quickly came, and 
taking Mr. Beale down to the boat, during which 
time the latter was employed in keeping the beak 
of the cuttle away from his hand, quickly released 
him by destroying his tormentor with the boat- 
knife, when he disengaged it by portions at a time. 
Mr. Beale states that this Cephalopod must have 
measured across its expanded arms about four feet, 
whilst its body was not bigger than a large clenched 
hand.* 
In one genus of this Class the action of the 
suckers is Increased by a strong and sharp hook 
which projects from the centre of each. During 
action these hooks are plunged into the flesh of the 
victim, securing a yet firmer hold; added to which 
the two long arms, which are so endowed, and which 
are over and above the eight possessed by the 
Poulpe, are capable of being firmly locked together, 
and thus can be made “to cooperate in dragging 
to the mouth such powerful or refractory prey as 
singly the arms might be unable to subdue.” 
* Hist. of the Sperm Whale. 
