CEPHALOPODS. 483 



there is a white border, accompanied inside with a second edging of 

 a beautiful violet. The median and anterior parts of the body are 

 spotted here and there ; beneath, a whitish tint with reddish speckles 

 prevails. 



The sepias are found on every shore, and wherever they are found 

 they are eaten, for their flesh is savoury. They are usually fried or 

 boiled. They form an excellent bait for large ground-fish, such as 

 dog-fish, rays, and congers, which are fond of their flesh. 



Thirty species are known, and they are chiefly characterised by 

 the arrangement and form of the suckers of the arms. Sepia officinalis 

 is common on the shores of the ocean from Sweden to the Canaries, 

 in all parts of the Mediterranean, and on our own British shores. 



Fig. 326. Sepia officinalis (Linnseus). 



The third family, Bekmnitidce, contains the genera Belemnoteuthis 

 and Belemnites, and other genera of less importance ; they are all 

 now extinct, although once numerous as to species. 



The fourth family, Teuthidce, contains Loligopsis, Cranchia^ 

 Sepiola, Onychotenthis, Loligo, and others. 



The Calamaries or Squids were described by Aristotle under the 

 name of Feints, and by Pliny under that of Loligo, which is still 

 retained as the name of one genus. Their popular name of Calmai 

 (calamar in old French) is taken from their resemblance to certain 

 species of ink-holders. Oppian, who endowed the Argonaut with 

 wings, believed that the calmar also could take to the air, in order to 

 avoid his enemies. Nevertheless, he was much puzzled how to give 

 the form and functions of a bird to a fish. Themistocles, by way of 

 insult to the Eretrians, likened them to calmars, saying they had 

 swords and no hearts. Athenaeus, a Greek physician before Galen, 

 dwelt upon the nourishing properties of the flesh of the calmar. 



