MOLLUSKS 153 
the victims in their sucker-bearing arms, and crushing the prey in 
their sharp, parrot-like beaks. 
Nothing in nature is more gruesome and hideous than the 
sinuous writhing of these creatures, or more strangely fascinating 
than the wonderful play of varied colors over their soft, pulsating 
bodies, this movement contrasted all the time with the cruel, stony 
stare of their expressionless eyes. 
The octopus often takes up its abode within some rocky crev- 
ice, and lies safely hidden in the shadow, at the same time similat- 
ing the color of its surroundings so that its victims do not perceive 

—_———e 
'D 
H.B.Jusy 
Fig. 113; OCVOPUS AMERICANUS. From a painting made at Tortugas, Fla., 
by Herbert B. Judy. 
their danger until grasped by the suckers of the long, muscular 
arms. This habit of seeking caverns is well known to the Japan- 
ese, who capture the octopus for the market by simply sinking 
earthenware urns over night, and then drawing them up in the 
morning, when some of them are found to be occupied by these 
repulsive creatures. 
Despite their generally musky odor octopi and squids are eaten 
