296 WEST COAST SHELLS 



Streaks of yellowish-white; its foot is light-colored, 

 also the muzzle and tentacles. It is found at Sitka, 

 and on \^ancouver Island. 



CEPHALOPODS 



At this point we will briefly consider our members 

 of the highest class ot mollusks, the Cephalopods. 

 The}' are rather poorly represented on our coast, 

 though one species at least exists in great numbers. 

 Shells of a Paper Nautilus, Argonauta pacifica^ Dall, 

 are sometimes washed ashore on the Santa Barbara 

 Islands. The}^ are white, thin and delicate, and are 

 very different from ordinary shells. A much more 

 common species ot this class is the Octopus, or Devil- 

 fish, or Cuttle, of our coast, Polypus punctatus^ 

 Gabb, small specimens ot which are frequently cap- 

 tured alive in little tide-pools, though in the open 

 sea it grows to startling dimensions. 



The Octopus is one ot the most remarkable crea- 

 tures of the sea, and many are the tales, true and 

 otherwise, which have been told ot his structure and 

 his actions. He has eight long, active legs, without 

 bones or stiffness, which are arranged like the rays 

 of a starhsh. Above the center ot the star is the bag- 

 shaped body, and near the junction ot the body and 

 legs is the head, with its two staring eyes, its parrot- 

 like beak, and its siphon pipe, by means of which 

 the creature can propel himself backward through 

 the water. 



It is an active animal at times, creeping briskly 

 over the stones at the bottom of the water, or swim- 

 ming rapidly with its legs trailing behind. It has 



