THE OCTOPUS. 



133 



is concerned, analogous to the difference between the 

 slug (^Limax) and the snail (Helix). 



In order to convey an idea of the general characters 

 of the cephalopoda, let us take one of them and examine 

 it — say the common poulpe, the polypus of the ancients, 

 (Octopus vulgaris,) an animal common on the coasts of 



'''\ .'* 





Octopus vulgaris. 



southern Europe, and found on our own shores. There 

 is something strange and uncouth in the figure of this 

 creature ; its long flexible arms moving and curling in 

 all directions, and its large eyes, which stare with a 

 fixed gaze, render it even repulsive. A cursory ob- 



