302 CUTTLE-FISH. 



tail be cut off, these parts will grow again. Their bodies 

 are soft and slimy, and they are furnished with four ten- 

 tacula above the mouth, at the extremity of the two 

 larger of which the eyes are placed. The most familiar 

 examples of this tribe are the Common Black Slug, and 

 the Small Gray Slug. 



The SEA-ANEMONES are animals which adhere by their 

 base to rocks in the sea. When closed they are shaped 

 somewhat like a cone with its extremity cut off : when 

 open, they extend, from their upper extremity, several 

 arms or tentacula, which are ranged in circles round their 

 mouth. These, in some of the species, are beautifully 

 coloured, red, blue, and white, whence the animals have 

 had their name of Sea-anemones. They are employed 

 in conducting food to the mouth. The Sea-anemones 

 feed on various kinds of marine productions, and even 

 on shell-fish. The whole interior of their body is one 

 cavity, or stomach ; and they usually eject the shells 

 through the same orifice by which they were introduced ; 

 but if these present themselves, as it sometimes happens, 

 in a wrong position, they actually pass through the sides, 

 making a wound as if cut with a knife, which immedia- 

 tely afterwards closes and heals. 



The CUTTLE-FISH are generally of an oblong, or rounded 

 shape, and a fleshy consistence. They are furnished 

 with eight long arms around their mouth. These arms 

 have upon them several small circular parts, by which 

 the animals are able to adhere strongly to solid objects. 

 The mouth is formed somewhat like the beak of a parrot. 

 The Cuttle-fish are able to swim, though but slowly. 

 As they are not furnished with any weapons of defence, 

 they would be liable to the most fatal attacks from their 



