1832.] THE OCTOPUS. 21 



colour, examined more carefully, was a French gray, with 

 numerous minute spots of bright yellow : the former of 

 these varied in intensity ; the latter entirely disappeared and 

 appeared again by turns. These changes were effected in 

 such a manner, that clouds, varying in tint between a 

 hyacinth-red and a chestnut-brown,"*^ were continually pass- 

 ing over the body. Any part being subjected to a slight 

 shock of galvanism, became almost black : a similar effect, 

 but in a less degree, was produced by scratching the skin 

 with a needle. These clouds, or blushes as they may be 

 called, are said to be produced by the alternate expansion 

 and contraction of minute vesicles containing variously 

 coloured fluids. t 



This cuttle-fish displayed its chameleon-like power both 

 during the act of swimming and whilst remaining stationary 

 at the bottom. I was much amused by the various arts to 

 escape detection used by one individual, which seemed fully 

 aware that I was watching it. Remaining for a time 

 motionless, it would then stealthily advance an inch or two, 

 like a cat after a mouse ; sometimes changing its colour : it 

 thus proceeded, till having gained a deeper part, it darted 

 away, leaving a dusky train of ink to hide the hole into 

 which it had crawled. 



While looking for marine animals, with my head about 

 two feet above the rocky shore, I was more than once 

 saluted by a jet of water, accompanied by a slight grating 

 noise. At first I could not think what it was, but after- 

 wards I found out that it was this cuttle-fish, which, though 

 concealed in a hole, thus often led me to its discovery. That 

 it possesses the power of ejecting water there is no doubt, 

 and it appeared to me that it could certainly take good aim 

 by directing the tube or siplion on the under side of its 

 body. From the difficulty which these animals have in 

 carrying their heads, they cannot crawl with ease when 

 placed on the ground. I observed that one which I kept in 

 the cabin was slightly phosphorescent in the dark. 



St. Paul's Rocks,— In crossing the Atlantic we hove-to, 

 during the morning of the i6th of February, close to the 

 island of St. Paul's. This cluster of rocks is situated in 

 o' 58' north latitude, and 29° 15' west longitude. It is 540 

 miles distant from the coast of America, and 350 from the 



* So named according: to Patrick Syines's nomenclature. 



t See " Encyclop. of Anat. and Physiol., article Cephalopoda, 



