CEPHALOPODS. 



447 



the ligament, by the aid of which the Cephalopocl is retained in the 

 last chamber of the shell. 



Fig. 313 is the same section, with the last cell empty, and with 

 the perforations through which 

 the siphon passes. 



The NautilidoB are inhabi- 

 tants of the Indian Ocean and 

 the sea round the Molucca 

 Islands. In swimming, their 

 head and tentacles are pro- 

 jected from out of the shell. 

 In walking on rocks they 



drag themselves along the Fjg 313 Nautilus pompilins (Linnjeus) , showlng the 

 ground, the body upwards, lower cel1 and tbe P ariition s iviu s passage to the sipbon. 

 the head and tentacles beneath. They betake themselves frequently 

 to miry cavities frequented by fish. It is a much more common occur- 

 rence to find the empty than inhabited shells of the Nautilus at sea. 

 This, probably, arises from its exposure to the attacks of crustaceans 

 and other marine carnivora. 

 This seems to be proved by the 

 mangled appearance of the edges 

 in the empty shells thus met 

 with. 



The Pearly Nautilus, Nautilus 

 pompilius (Fig. 314), is so com- 

 mon on the Nicobar coast that 

 the inhabitants salt and dry its 

 flesh, and store them as pro- 

 visions. Its shell attains about 

 eight inches in its greatest 

 height. This shell is still used by the Hindoo priests as their conch or 

 shell, with which they summon their devotees to worship. It is nearly 

 round, smooth, transversely blazed in its posterior part, and entirely 

 white anteriorly. A very fine nacre is yielded by this mollusc, which 

 is much used in ornamental cabinet-work. The Orientals make drink- 

 ing-cups, on which they engrave designs and figures, which form grace- 

 ful objects. Similar vases were formerly shaped in Europe, which found 

 their way into great houses. In our days they are generally consigned 



Fig. 314. Shell of Nautilus pompihus (Li<maeus). 



