308 CUTTLE-FISHES. 



creatures, such as the Hydra of our ponds, some of the 

 animals of which we now speak, if travellers' stories 

 may be trusted, more nearly resemble in their size, 

 terrific aspect, and destructive powers, the Hydra of 

 fabulous history. On our own shores there are many 

 species, not, however, of a formidable size ; but in 

 tropical countries, species are said to occur with arms 

 "nine fathoms long,"* which do not scruple to attack 

 man himself, and to do so not merely when he is found 

 naked in the water, but often when passing in a boat, 

 which they sink with ease, by throwing their arms 

 across it. Once the cuttle-fish fixes his hold, no effort 

 that a fish is capable of making can throw him off; 

 and the peculiar arrangement of the limbs, added to 

 their admirable structure, place the unfortunate prey at 

 the mercy of a singularly hard and sharp pair of jaws. 

 When the Cuttle-fish is at rest, he stands (like an 

 Echinus) on his head, with his mouth in contact with 

 the surface of what he stands upon; and round the 

 mouth extends a circle of eight or ten arms, the whole 

 of whose lower surface is studded with circular discs, of 

 most elaborate structure, like so many cupping-glasses 

 or rather miniature air-pumps. When the Cuttle-fish 

 wishes to fix himself to any surface, he merely brings 

 these discs in contact with it, and then, exercising 



* " A friend of mine, long resident among the Indian isles, and a 

 diligent observer of Nature, informed me that the natives affirm, that 

 some have been seen two fathoms broad over their centre, and each 

 arm nine fathoms long. When the Indians navigate their little 

 boats, they go in dread of them ; and lest these animals should fling 

 their arms over, and sink them, they never sail without an axe to cut 

 them off." Pennant, Brit. Zool. vol. iv. p. 45. 



