CUTTLEFISHES, THE OCTOPUS, ETC. 35 



creature has seized its prey with these arms, it can lock 

 them together, and so render escape impossible. 



In the southern seas these gigantic molluscs are greatly 

 dreaded by the natives. The long arms can be slid over 

 the edges of the canoe, and if they seized one of the crew, 

 he would certainly lose his life, were he not prepared for 

 such an attack. 



These molluscs approach the vertebrate animals in 

 many respects, and especially in their nervous system. 

 The nerves are concentrated near the junction of the 

 arms in such a manner that they form a sort of brain. 



EXTREMITY OF AHM. 



The natives are aware of this fact, and always keep a 

 long, sharp wooden spike in the boat. When attacked 

 by a Cuttle, they drive the spike into the brain, when 

 the suckers relax their hold, the arms collapse, and the 

 animal dies at once. 



They employ the same mode when fishing for Cuttles. 

 They first make a bait which looks anything but a bait 

 to those who do not know its use. It is formed of the 

 large cowry shells of these seas, and is shaped like a 

 buoy. This is tied to a cord and trailed slowly along 

 the bed of the sea. The Cuttle sees it, thinks it to be 



