THi; STAU-IISII. 413 



become a pail ol tlie substance ol the animal itself. The in- 

 digestible parts are returned by the same aperture by which they 

 were swallowed, and then the star-fish begins to fish for more. 

 These also may be cut in pieces, and every part will survive the 

 operation ; each becoming a perfect animal, endued with its na- 

 tural rapacity. Of this tribe, the number is various, and the 

 description of each would be tedious and uninstructing ; the 

 manners and nature of all are nearly as described ; but I will 

 just make mention of one creature, which, though not properly 

 belonging to this class, yet is so nearly related, that the passing 

 it in silence would be an unpardonable omission. 



Of ail other animals, the cuttle-fish, though in some respects 

 superior to this tribe, possesses qualities the most extraordinary, 

 it is about two feet long, covered with a very thin skin, and its 

 iiesh composed of a gelatinous substance, which, however, with- 

 in-side, is strengthened by a strong bone, of which such great 

 use is made by the goldsmith. It is possessed of eight arms, 

 which it extends, and which are probably of service to it in fish- 

 ing for its prey : while in life, it is capable of lengthening or 

 contracting these at pleasure ; but when dead, they contract, and 

 lose their rigidity. They feed upon small fish, which they seize 

 with their arms ; and they are bred from eggs, which are laid 

 upon the weeds along the sea-shore.* 



The cuttle-fish is found along many of the coasts of Euroj)e, 

 but are not easily caught, from a contrivance with which they 

 are furnished by nature ; this is a black substance, of the colour 

 of ink, which is contained in a bladder generally on the left side 

 of the belly, and which is ejected in the mantier of an excre- 

 ment from the anus. Whenever, therefore, this fish is pursued, 

 and when it finds a difficulty of escaping, it si)urts forth a great 

 quantity of this black li(|uor, by which the v.aters are totally 



* Of this goiiiis eight species have been discovered. The sfriictiire of 

 tliese animals i? very remarViable. The body is cylindrical, and in some ni 

 the species entirely covered with a fleshy sheath ; in others the sheath 

 reaches oTily to the middle of the body. They have eight tentaeulre or arms, 

 and in general two feelers, as they are called, which are much longer than 

 the arms. Both the feelers and arms are furnished with strong circular cups 

 or suckers. The mouth of these animals is hard, strong, and horny, resem. 

 bling, both in texture and suljstance, the beak of a parrot. In hot climates, 

 the cuttle-iish sometimes becomes of such a size as to nieasure twelve feet 

 ricross the centre, and to liave each of its arms between forty :'.nd fifty feet 

 ioag. The Indians are soraetimcs cUupcd in lijeir cano''s by tt'c:n. 



