132 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



are covered with small suckers, they are enabled to 

 maintain so tenacious a hold that any unfortunate crab 

 or fish with which they come in contact is left without 

 escape. Whilst possessing such powers of offence, they 

 are gifted with most singular means of defence. Like 

 the chameleon, they have the power of changing their 

 colour to delude their foes ; they also possess a bag, from 

 which, when pursued, they eject a quantity of inky fluid, 

 which envelopes them in a black cloud, and covers their 

 escape. The contents of the ink-bag supply the brown 

 pigment called sepia, used by artists. 



Sepia biserialis. A single specimen of the internal shell or 

 bone of this rare species has been found on the Southport 

 shore. It is much smaller than S. officinalis, lanceolate 

 in shape, the point curved a little outwards, and the base 

 slightly inwards. 



Sepiola Atlantica. A much smaller animal than the common 

 Cuttle. I have seen only one good specimen found on 

 the shore. 



Voligo vulgaris. A fine specimen has been taken at the end 

 of the Pier. 



LAND AND FRESH-WATER SHELLS. 



ACEPHALA LAMELLTBRANCHIATA. 



CYCLADIDyE. 



Cydas rivicola (River Cycle or Fresh-water" Cockle). Found 

 in many of the streams and ditches about Southport, but 

 small ; in the canal at Burscough Bridge, abundant 

 and fine. In shape this shell is similar to a young 

 cockle, but more compressed ; finely striated, greenish 



