How loiiff Eledone lives is not known. However, 

 from the fact that during- the early spring quite young 

 specimens occur — probably hatched from the previous 

 summer's spawn — together with many stages between half 

 and full grown specimens, they probably live several 

 years under natural conditions. At present nothing is 

 known as to their rate of growth, or the size at which 

 sexual maturity is reached. Eledone is an extremely 

 delicate animal, and rapidly suffers if the tank in which 

 it is placed has not a good and constant supply of sea 

 water. Hence it is practically impossible to observe it 

 alive elsewhere than at the Marine Biological stations. 

 Confinement affects it in various ways. For instance, 

 although it was found, on dissecting several Eledones 

 which had been kept in captivity for some weeks, that 

 the ink sac was full of ink; yet after the violent ejection 

 of ink which occurred when the animals were first caught, 

 and one or two very slight subsequent discharges, no ink 

 was ever again poured out. Even when being killed, no 

 ink was ejected, although the body was convulsed, and 

 the animal appeared to make a great effort to discharge 

 the secretion. 



Food. 



As Eledone is taken in both crab and lobster pots, 

 probably it eats both these Crustaceans. However, when 

 kept in tanks, it is generally fed on crabs, and crab 

 remains alone were found in the gut of numerous 

 specimens which were examined. It has been known to 

 attack and devour the Norway lobster, and will take 

 prawns or shrimps when they are placed in the same tank. 

 Preferably it takes the Edible Crab, Canny pagurus, but 

 Portunus depurator is also taken, and Carcinus moenas. 

 Eledone sometimes stalks its food, creeping after I he 



