42 HOMES TJNDEE THE SEA. 



The ink, which has already been mentioned, is also 

 expelled through the siphon. 



In some of the Cuttles, popularly known as Squids, 

 the propulsive power is so great that the creatures dart 

 through the water so swiftly that the eye cannot follow 

 them. They can even shoot themselves completely out 

 of the water like the flying-fish, and have often been 

 mistaken for those creatures. 



I may mention that a steam vessel has been con- 

 structed, which is propelled by the direct action of water 

 in precisely the same way. The engine is called the 

 Hydromotor. 



Whether for concealment, or for some unknown object, 

 many of these creatures even exceed the chameleon in the 

 power of changing colour. I have kept both creatures, 

 and have noticed that although the chameleon possesses 

 more positive hues of green and yellow, it does not 

 change so rapidly as the Sepia, over whose body the 

 colours flit as if produced in a magic lantern. The young 

 Sepiee seem to be in this respect superior to the old, and 

 can be very easily watched. 



In the summer, especially after a high wind, clusters 

 of Sepia eggs may be found on the shore. They are 

 black, smooth, and fastened together in such a way that 

 they look exactly like bunches of black grapes. Mostly, 

 their flexible foot-stalks are twisted round the stem of a 



If the eggs be placed in a vessel of sea-water, young 

 Sepiae will generally be hatched from some of the eggs. 



