22 



sliell, forming the nucleus of a spiral coil, in which it produces a vacuum by 

 the secretion of a transverse septum, in order to meet the increasing pressure 

 of the surrounding element consequent on its increase of bulk. Tliis operation 

 is repeated between thirty and forty times during the growth of the animal 

 by a periodical sHpping of the muscular girdle from the shell, precaution 

 having been fkst taken to secure itself to the first-formed chamber by the 

 flexible tubular membrane wliich passes through a short spouted pipe or 

 siphon in the centre of each. The marks of attachment of the girdle may 

 be seen in every chamber. The Nautilus thus chambers in the vacated 

 portion of the shell in order to assist its specific gravity under the different 

 variations of pressure to wdiich it is hable in its passage through the ocean. 

 The natural position of the animal when crawling at the bottom of the ocean 

 being, as in other Cephalopods, with the head downwards, the shell is up- 

 permost and buoys it up, and the periodical sbp of the muscle of attaclunent 

 most probably takes place when in this supine position. With every relaxa- 

 tion of the membrane and muscle the shell must naturally rise and coil upon 

 itself; and I think the use which I here venture to assign to the membrane, 

 the remains of which may be found in shells, extending throughout the 

 entire length of the siphon, admits of very reasonable construction. 



Little is known of the habits of the Nautilus beyond the circumstance of 

 Mr. Bennett's specimen having been seen floating alive on the water and 

 preparing on alarm to descend, and that contained in the curious narrative 

 of Rumpliius quoted by Owen"^. The accounts are, however, considered by 



The following extracts relating to tlie manufacture of China Ink are from the work alluded to. 



"The ink the Chinese use is made of lampblack, which they get by burning several sorts of 

 matter, but chiefly pine-wood or oil. They mix perfumes with it, to correct the strong and 

 disagreeable smell of the oil. They incorporate together these ingredients till they come to the 

 consistence of a paste, which they put into divers wooden moulds. These moulds are well and 

 variously wrought in order to print upon the paste what figures they please. The usual mipres- 

 sions are of men, dragons, birds, trees, flowers, and the like. 



" The best ink is made at iriiei/ chew, a town in the province Kyang nan. There are many 

 things to be observed in the making of it, and it has several degrees of goodness ; according to 

 which it is dearer or cheaper. 



" They put five or six lighted wicks in a vessel full of oil, and lay upon this vessel an iron cover 

 made in the shape of a funnel, which must be set at a certain distance so as to receive all the 

 smoke. When it has received enough they take it off, and with a goose's feather gently brush 

 the bottom, letting the soot fall upon a dry sheet of strong paper ; it is this which makes their 

 fine and shining ink. AVhen they have in this manner taken off the lampblack, they beat it in a 

 mortar and mix with it some odoriferous water, with a thin size to unite the particles. 



" We are assured that in the city of Whey chine, where the ink is made which is most esteemed, 

 the merchants have great numbers of little rooms, where they keep lighted lamps all day ; and 

 that every room is distinguished by the oil which is burnt in it, and consequently by the ink 

 which is made therein." — Du Halde, History of China, fol. ed. 1738, vol. i. p 370-1 



* "When he thus floats on the water, he puts out his head and all his barbs (tentacles), and 

 spreads thcni upon the water, with the poop (of the shell) above water ; but at the bottom he 

 creeps in the reverse position, with his boat above him, and with his head and barbs upon the 

 ground, making a tolerably quick progress. He keeps himself chiefly upon the ground, creeping 

 sometimes also into the nets of the fishermen, but after a storm, as the weather becomes calm, they 

 are seen in troops floating on the water, being di-iven up by the agitation of the waves. Whence 

 one may infer, that they congregate in troops" at the bottom. This sailing, however, is not of 

 long continuance ; for having taken in all iheir tentacles, they upset their boat and so return to 

 thcbottom." — B'Amloiivische Hariieit-Lamn, p. 91. fol. Amsterdam, 1741. 



