Armoured Myriads and Monsters 



" siphon," always in a direction opposite to that 

 in which it intends to go. So great is the force 

 thus employed that the cuttlefish rushes with 

 wonderful speed, often with lightning-like rapidity, 

 through the water. 



While not protected by outside armour, like 

 limpets and oysters, it really does secrete a shell ; 

 but the shell is inside instead of outside the 

 mantle, stiffening the latter, though not pro- 

 tecting it from injury. In its case, however, the 

 weapons of offence are sufficient, and there is 

 less need for defensive armour. 



In the cuttlefish we have a very tiger of the 

 ocean, haunting vast areas in numbers which 

 cannot be calculated. 



One or two kinds are known which prefer to 

 live solitary lives, but usually they herd together. 

 Woe betide all weaker creatures where they 

 abound! Once caught in those powerful arms, 

 within reach of the fierce beak, no chance for 

 them remains. Molluscs, crabs, fishes, all alike 

 fall victims to this ruthless destroyer. It is said 

 that the cutdefish, like its striped prototype on 

 land, will kill when not hungry for the pure 

 pleasure of killing. 



The smaller species are a principal article in 

 the diet of dolphins and of codfishes. But the 



215 



