CEPHALOPODS. 451 



the branchiae. With each beat of the pulse the venous blood is 

 brought from all parts of the body, and propelled through each gill 

 or branchiae. Vivified by respiration in the internal tissue of the 

 branchiae, it is carried by the veins into the third heart, situated upon 

 the median line of the body ; and now the regenerated fluid is again 

 distributed throughout the rest of the economy. 



Not to oppress the reader with anatomical details, we "shall just 

 remark that the gaze of the cuttle-fish is decided and threatening. 

 Its projecting eyes and golden-coloured iris are said to have something 

 of fascination in them. The animal seems able even to economise the 

 power of its glance, being able to cover its eyes from time to time by 

 contracting the skin which surrounds them, and bringing the two 

 translucent eyelids with which it is furnished closer together. 



The cuttle-fishes are essentially aquatic and marine animals. We 

 find them in every sea in all parts of the world ; but they are most 

 formidable in warm countries. They have a great predilection for the 

 shore. During their youth they associate in flocks ; but with age 

 they fly from association, and retire into the clefts and hollows of the 

 rocks. The old cuttle-fish is only found in rugged and rocky places, 

 bristling with naked, pointed rocks, which have been worn by the 

 waves, but generally in places only a few feet below the level of low 

 water. " How often," says D'Orbigny, " have we not observed the 

 cuttle-fish in his favourite retirement ! There, with one of his arms 

 cramped to the walls of its dwelling, it extends the other towards the 

 animals which pass at its gate, embraces them, and by its power 

 renders useless all their efforts to disengage themselves." 



If we observe a cuttle-fish when it is what may be called walking, 

 either on land or at the bottom of the sea, it will be seen to walk on 

 one side, its head downwards, its mouth touching the ground, the 

 arms extended and grappling some supporting object, and drawing 

 the body forward ; at the same time the arms at the opposite side are 

 contracted and folded up, so as to assist by a contrary movement. 

 On shore the movement of these animals is very slow. On the other 

 hand, they swim very rapidly, assisted by all their arms, and aided 

 by the water ejected from the locomotive tube, their movement being 

 most frequently backwards, the body first, the six superior arms 

 placed horizontally, the two others brought together above: the 

 first help to sustain them in their horizontal position, the last to 



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