THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 149 



fish as being like a glove, but large enough to catch and 

 swallow sharks, etc., and very dangerous to men. The open 

 end of the glove was the mouth, and the fingers represented 

 long arms, which it could reach forward of the mouth to 

 seize and hold its prey. It had but the one opening into 

 the stomach; and when indigestible matter, as bones, etc., 

 became inconvenient, it quietly reached two of its arms to 

 the bottom of its stomach and brought away the superfluous 

 matter. Leaving Chock-a-block for a moment, I will inform 

 young and inquiring readers that the polypi are not partic- 

 ular as to diet "All is fish that comes to the net;" and 

 they have no aversion to eating near relatives. In a word, 

 they will seize their kind, and stow the victims away in their 

 capacious stomachs. According to the Kanaka, Greek meets 

 Greek when polypus meets polypus. After a valiant tussle, 

 one swallows but does not vanquish the other. On the con 

 trary, the swallowed backs into some convenient recess of 

 the swallower's stomach, and there jDiits forth his arms, for- 

 aging on surrounding territory, and unkindly eating all he 

 can find, much to the loss and damage of the outsider. In 

 due order, a second and smaller relative is taken in by No. 1, 

 and No. 2 feels bound to dispose of every thing that comes 

 down. He takes in the new lodger and a dinner at one gulp. 

 Of course, this state of things can not continue long. No. 1 

 is getting hungry ; he has been industrious, but it has been 

 for others' benefit. He proceeds to investigate by swallow- 

 ing the hooked end of four or more of his arms, and with 

 these he overhauls cargo, and discovers the Well-to-do eater 

 of all his dinners. A writ of ejectment is issued, and sum- 

 mary process resorted to. But No. 2 has had such a good 

 time in the oyster - cellar that he says Nay, and throwing 

 around his arms, hooks, and suckers, he anchors fast to the 

 wrinkled, emaciated stomach which he has so grievously 

 wronged. Now comes the tug of war. No. 1 pulls for good 



