THE COMMON SEPIA. 39 



fanciers, who find that they are even better than sand 

 or gravel as aids to digestion. Tooth-powder is also 

 obtained by the simple process of scraping, and for those 

 who travel much the " Cuttle-bone " is found to be pre- 

 ferable to a box of powder. 



Still more useful is the well-known colour called 

 "Sepia," which, when genuine, is obtained from this 

 animal. 



All the Cuttle tribe possess an internal bag, or sac, 

 which contains a peculiar black liquid. This liquid can 

 be spurted out at the will of the owner, so that the water 



CUTTLE BONE. 



around becomes instantly as black as ink. The object of 

 this curious provision is to act as a cover to the creature 

 when it is forced to seek for shelter. If alarmed, it 

 instinctively empties the ink-sac into the water and darts 

 off unperceived. 



A gentleman well known in literature once saved his 

 life by recollecting this habit of the Cuttle. He was a 

 good diver, and was amusing himself by fetching up some 

 of the beautiful shells which lay on the sand. Suddenly, 

 a cloud seemed to pass over him, and, on looking up, he 

 saw a large shark hovering over him. He had forgotten 



