216 teuthid^e. 



" The sepiola, the minutest of the Naked Cephalopods, 

 possesses a structure as complex and elaborate as that of 

 the largest Octopus or Lollgo. By the magnitude of its 

 cephalic arms, and their numerous large pedunculated 

 suckers, it compensates for the want of developed suckers 

 on its long tentacula. By the great development of its ink- 

 gland, and the magnitude of its organs of vision, it com- 

 pensates for the want of more solid means of protection. 

 The rounded form of its body required the dorsal lamina to 

 be shortened, which would have impeded the motions of 

 the mantle had it extended, as in the Loligo, to its extre- 

 mity. The great muscular strength of its dorsal fins, and 

 the mobility of their scapula, give rapid and varied motion 

 to this delicate and defenceless animal ; and they consti- 

 tute the most perfectly developed arms of this class. Its 

 organs of secretion are all largely developed — its salivary, 

 hepatic, pancreatic, and ink glands. Its digestive, circu- 

 lating, and respiratory organs, are constructed according 

 to the most perfect form of the cephalopodic type ; and the 

 great development of its generative apparatus is well 

 adapted to repair the rapid destruction of its race." — 

 Grant. 



These pretty little cuttle-fishes are active creatures inha- 

 biting very various depths of water in the laminarian and 

 coralline zones. They are regarded as a delicacy by the 

 Italians. 



One species only has hitherto been recognised in the 

 British seas, and this has always been identified by our 

 naturalists with the common Sepiola of the Mediterranean. 

 Gervais and Van Beneden in 1838 maintained that the 

 Sepiola of the Atlantic coasts of Europe was different from 

 that inhabiting the Mediterranean. The distinctions, 

 indicated by them, however,* were quite insufficient to 



* Bulletin de l'Acad. Roy. dc Bruxelles, vol. v. p. 421. 



