184 THE SEPIA. 



1 



But it cannot be good. 



MRS. F. 



On the contrary, it is particularly delicate. It is cut into 

 thin strips and fried, when it much resembles lobster; we 

 used often to eat it at Naples, and liked it very much;* 

 though, I confess, that were we to have seen it before it was 

 cooked, we might have felt less disposed to taste it. 



HENRIETTA. 



I should think so, aunt; for the cuttle-fish is such a very 

 disagreeable looking animal that I could never make up my 

 mind to eat it. 



MARY. 



What is it like? 



HENRIETTA. 



I once saw one, when we were staying by the sea-side. 

 It is about a foot long, of a soft, white substance, and its 

 mouth is placed in the centre of its feet, and is exactly like 

 the beak of a parrot. 



MRS. F. 



With this powerful weapon, the Sepia destroy a great 

 many fish and Crustacea. They belong to the class Cephalo- 

 poda of Cuvier, which is remarkable, as being the only class 

 of Mollusca which possess the organ of hearing. 



HENRIETTA. 



What, have not all Mollusca the five senses'? 



No; they only possess those of taste and sight, except in 

 this class, which has the additional faculty of hearing. The 

 Nautilus and Argonaut belong to the same class; but I wish 

 to know, if any of you have heard of the eight-armed cuttle 



* Several of this genus are eaten in Italy. 



