THE PEARLY NAUTILUS. 45 



wander defenceless on the bosom of the ocean are gifted 

 with the power of producing more intense discharges of ink 

 than others of an isolated character, which seek to hide 

 themselves in the cavities of rocks. The same variety of 

 adaptation is also observable in their locomotive powers. 

 Wandering Cejohalo2:)ods are furnished with a pair of lateral 

 fins, by aid of which they move rapidly in their native 

 element ; some few have caudal fins, which enable them to 

 swim backwards ; the tentacles of others are webbed around 

 the base, like the foot of a duck, and this configuration not 

 only increases their power of swimming, but facilitates 

 their springing out of the water, like flying-fish. Their 

 suckers have ofttimes a formidable character, appropriate to 

 their predacious mode of life ; occasionally they assume the 

 appearance of claws, and the fishermen are greatly afraid of 

 them. The sense of vision is very strong in these strange 

 mollusks ; many have even the power of turning their great 

 eyes completely round, in a manner similar to those of the 

 chameleon. 



Naturalists and poets have especially delighted in the 

 Paper and Pearly Nautili : creatures mentioned with brief 

 but marvellous accuracy by Aristotle, when describing the 

 results of a scientific voyage, which he was deputed to 



