THE ARGONAUT. 55 



mit of the keel, thus forming a kind of bridge over the 

 cavity that contained their eggs, their prominent eyes 

 glancing in all directions, while their suckers corresponded 

 to the tubercles, and the membranes, expanded over the 

 shell, gave an impression of quiet enjoyment. While looking 

 at them, and observing their progress through the water 

 with their shells foremost, he was led to the conclusion that 

 their movements were produced, not by an exertion of the 

 arms, or any expanding aloft, as sail, of their membranous 

 webs, whereby to catch the breeze, but rather by inspiring 

 and rejecting water, in and out of the branchial cavity ; the 

 shell meanwhile being firmly grasped in the embrace of the 

 expansile membranes. And thus, as regards this interesting 

 species, have recent discoveries served to dispel the poetic 

 illusions of past ages, which ofttimes delighted us in 

 childhood. With regard to the animal inhabitant of the 

 Argonauta, there is reason to believe that she is extremely 

 sensitive of danger ; that any alarm causes her to withdraw 

 her arms ; and that when thus tlu'own off her guard, she has 

 great difficulty in maintaining her hold. Should this occur, 

 and the terrified creature becomes disengaged from her 

 vessel, she cannot re-enter the home which she has so 

 elaborately constructed, to resume the guardianship of her 



