560 



CEPHALOPODA. 



agents in seizing prey, and are of so terrible a character, that, armed with 

 these formidable organs, the Poulpe becomes one of the most destructive 

 inhabitants of the sea ; for neither superior strength nor activity, nor 

 even defensive armour is sufficient to save its victims from the ruthless 

 ferocity of such a foe. A hundred and twenty pairs of suckers, more 

 perfect and efficacious than the cupping-glasses of human contrivance, 

 crowd the lower surface of every one of the eight flexible arms. If the 



Fig. 280. 



The Poulpe (Octopus vulgaris). 



Poulpe but touch its prey, it is enough : once a few of these tenacious 

 suckers get firm hold, the swiftness of the fish is unavailing, as it is soon 

 trammelled on all sides by the firmly-holding tentacula and dragged to 

 the mouth of its destroyer. The shell of the Lobster or of the Crab is a 

 vain protection, for the hard and crooked beak of the Cephalopod easily 

 breaks to pieces the frail armour ; and even man himself, while bathing, 

 has been entwined by the strong arms of gigantic species, and struggled 

 in vain against a grasp so pertinacious. 



(1508.) In the genus Octopus the arms are only eight in number, and 

 nearly of equal length; but to the Calamaries (Loligo) and other genera 



