THE PAPER NAUTILUS, OR SAILING-FISH. 



" Learn of the little Nautilus to sail, 

 Spread the thin oar, and catch the driving gale." 



Pope. 



" Among the principal miracles of nature," 

 says Pliny, " is the animal called Nautilos, or 

 Pompilos. It ascends to the surface of the sea 

 in a supine posture, and gradually rising itself 

 up, forces out, by means of its tube, all the 

 water from the shell, in order that it may swim 

 the more readily ; then throwing back the two 

 foremost arms, it displays between them a mem- 

 brane of wonderful tenuity, which acts as a sail, 

 while with the remaining arms it rows itself 

 along ; the tail in the middle acting as a helm to 

 direct its course : and thus it pursues its voyage, 

 and if alarmed by any appearance of danger, 

 takes in the water and descends." Pliny. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE SAME FISH BY ANOTHER 

 AUTHOR. 



The Argonauta, known to shell collectors by 

 the name of the Paper Nautilus, is supposed to 

 have given to man the first idea of navigation. 

 When it means to sail, it discharges a quantity 



B2 



