74 THE HISTORY OF ANIMALS [B. IV. 



5. All the polypi, except one kind, have eight feet, with 

 a double row of suckers. The sepia, 1 teuthis, 2 and teuthos 

 possess as a characteristic part two long proboscidiform mem 

 bers, which have rough suckers at their extremities, with 

 which they seize their food and bring it to their mouth ; and 

 when a storm arises they weather it out, fastening these 

 members upon a rock, like an anchor. They swim by means 

 of the fin-like members which are attached to the abdomen. 

 There are suckers upon all their feet. 



6. The polypus* uses its tentacula both as feet and hands, 

 for it brings its food to its mouth with the two that are above 

 the mouth, and it uses the last of its tentacula, which is 

 the sharpest of all, in the act of coition ; this is the only 

 one which is at all white, and it is divided at the extre 

 mity, it is placed upon the back ; and the smooth part, in 

 front of which are the acetabula, is called the back. In 

 front of the abdomen, and above the tentacula, they have a 

 hollow tube, by which they eject the sea-water which they 

 have received into the abdomen, if any enters through the 

 mouth. This part varies in position, and is sometimes on the 

 right side, sometimes on the left, and by this its ink is 

 ejected. 



7. It swims sideways upon the part called the head, 

 stretching out its feet ; as it swims it is able to see forwards, 

 for the eyes are upwards, and the mouth is placed behind. 

 As long as it is alive the head is hard, as if it were inflated ; 

 it touches and holds with its tentacula bent downwards, 

 a membrane is extended throughout, between the feet, if it 

 falls into the sand, it can no longer hold by it. 



8. The polypus and the above-mentioned malacia differ 

 from each other ; the abdomen of the polypus is small, and 

 the feet are large ; but of the others, the abdomen is large, 

 and the feet small, so that they cannot walk upon them. 

 They have also differences among each other ; the teu 

 this is the smallest, the sepia wider ; the teuthos is much 

 larger than the teuthis, for it reaches the length of five cubits. 

 Some sepias are two cubits long, and the tentacula of the 

 polypus are as long, and even larger in size. 



9. The class of the teuthos is rare, and differs in form from 



1 Sepia oflicinalis. 2 Loligo vulgaris (Owen), 



3 Loligo media (Owen). * Sepia octopodia. 



