The Mighty Deep 



creatures of warmer climes ; still less with the 

 monsters of Ocean's depths. Yet it is not 

 desirable to have a hand or a foot in their 

 tenacious grip. 



Most of us have seen small specimens in an 

 aquarium — evil-looking at the best. Sometimes 

 individuals of the large species visit us from a 

 distance, though they probably do not take up 

 their abode by choice in our neighbourhood. 



The body of a cuttlefish, like the bodies of 

 most Molluscs, is enwrapped in a loose mantle, 

 which in this instance is of strong and muscular 

 make, perpetually enlarging and contracting. 

 From the one opening in the mantle emerges the 

 head, with two large eyes and a mouth ; and 

 round the latter, which generally boasts a sharp 

 beak like that of a parrot, spring eight or ten 

 long lissom powerful " arms " or limb-like ten- 

 tacles, each furnished with a row of suckers, 

 which in the smaller kinds look rather like 

 buttons. 



Through the opening at its neck the creature 

 draws in and pours out water — breathes it in and 

 out, in fact. When in repose, this breathing 

 goes on quietly and automatically. But if the 

 animal wishes to move, it forces the water out 

 in a violent spurt through what is called the 



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