443 DICK BROWNELL'S LAST EXPLOIT IN INDIA. 



are almost bare, a sausage-like pouch hanging from the under part of its neck, 

 while its bill is enormous. It has been known less than twenty-five years to 

 naturalists. The upper part of its thighs furnishes plumes more beautiful and 

 valuable than those of the ostrich, and its voracity is almost as great. 



I must tell you something here about the octopus, which may be called the 

 gorilla of the ocean. It grows to an immense size along some coasts, and is justly 

 dreaded by the most experienced fishermen. 



Its usual resting-place is under a huge stone, or in the broad cleft of a rock, 

 where it can squeeze itself as flat as a sandal. When moving about it uses its 

 eight arms as paddles, working them alternately, while the central disc may be 

 regarded as a boat. You would think this an awkward means of locomotion, but 

 the octopus travels easily and swiftly over the sandy bottoms, climbs the slippery 

 ledges, or, attaching its numerous suckers to the face of rocks, moves at will in any 

 direction. 



Besides the amazing strength of the creature, and the fact that lopping off sev- 

 eral of its huge arms or feelers does not affect its aggressiveness, it has the power 

 of numbing its victim. The deep contains many hideous creatures, but I can con- 

 ceive of none more dreadful than the octopus. 



And now we must turn our attention to Jack Harvey and Bob Marshall's 

 adventures in the land of the gorilla. 



