128 LECTURE X. 



with numerous, round, concave cups, or suckers, 

 which adhere so strongly to whatever substance 

 the animal chuses to attach itself to, as not to be 

 separated without great force. 



Exclusive of these characters, the animals of 

 this genus are furnished with an internal pouch or 

 receptacle, filled with a very dark- coloured fluid, 

 in some species intensely black : this fluid they 

 discharge at pleasure through a tubular orifice 

 situated at the base of the breast. 



The most common European species of this 

 genus is the Sepia QJfitinalis of Linnaeus, generally 

 known by the name of the Cuttle-Fish. This ani- 

 mal, which, at its full growth, measures about two 

 feet in length, is of a pale bluish-brown colour, 

 with the skin marked by numerous dark-purple 

 specks. Imbedded in the back or fleshy part of 

 the body of this species is always found a large 

 oblong-oval, calcareous bone, of a cellular tex- 

 ture, and which is of so light a nature as to float 

 in water. It has been supposed that the animal 

 has the power of filling the minute cellules of this 

 bone with air, or of exhausting them of it at plea- 

 sure, in order to ascend or descend with the great-- 

 er facility. This bone of the Cuttle-Fish is often 





