536 Mollusca. 



species, entirely covered with a fleshy sheath. ; in others 

 the sheath reaches only to the middle of the body. 

 They have eight arms, or rather legs, and in general 

 two feelers, much longer than the arms. Both the 

 feelers and arms are furnished with strong circular cups 

 or suckers. The mouth is hard, strong, and horny, 

 resembling in texture the beak of the parrot. The 

 body is of a jelly-like substance, and usually covered 

 with a coarse skin, having the appearance of leather. 

 This skin contains cells of different colours, which are 

 capable of changing their relative position, so that the 

 Cuttle-fish is able to change the colour of its skin. By 

 means of the numerous circular cups or suckers with 

 which the arms are furnished, they seize their prey, 

 and firmly attach themselves to the rocks. Their 

 adhesive power is so great, that it is generally more 

 easy to tear off the arms than to separate them from the 

 substance to which they are affixed : if the arms happen 

 to be broken off, they are soon reproduced. The size to 

 which this creature grows has been variously stated ; 

 and, although evidently exaggerated by some authors, it 

 undoubtedly attains to a very considerable magnitude. 

 When attacked in its own element, it has been known 

 to overcome a large dog. Its jaws are extremely strong 

 and powerful, and with its beak it can crush in pieces 

 the shells of the fish on which it feeds. In the body is 

 a bladder filled with a dark inky fluid, which it emits 

 when alarmed, and which not only tinges the water so 

 as to conceal its retreat, but is so bitter as immediately 

 to drive off its enemies. This inky fluid, when dried, 

 forms a very valuable colour, used by artists, and 

 known as Sepia. 



The bone, or calcareous plate of the Sepia Officinalis, a 

 species common on our coasts, is a well-known substance, 

 and is much employed in the manufacture of tooth- 

 powder ; and by silversmiths for moulds, to cast their 

 small work, such as rings, &c. It is also converted into 

 that useful article of stationery, called pounce. 



