HABITS OK TIIK <' Kl' II A l,o|'o I > A. 



II. Oclopi o!' enormous si/e are occasionally met with ain 



the islands of the NCela-co^shimah Group. I measured one. which 

 two men were bearing on their shoulders across a pole, and round 

 each brachium r;it her more 1 h;in t wo feel IOIILJ.-. ni\ in- i he creanire 

 the power of exploring ;in area of aboiii twelve feel without 



moving, taking the mouth lor M eenti-Ml poini.and theextrenr 



of the arm-, to describe the ei rclim I'erenee. I>ors;d plaVs of 

 Sej)i;e. ;i foot HIM! :i Imll' in lenol li. M re found strewing ihe beaches. 

 I have frequently observed the Sepi;e and Oetopi in full preda- 

 tory ariivil \ . and have had eonsideraltle trouble and dilliculty in 

 securing them, SO great is their restless vivaeityat this time, and 

 BO vigorous are their endeavors to escape. Tlicy dar! from side 

 :o >idc of the pools, or fix theinsrlvo so tenaciously to the 

 surface of the stones, by means of their sucker-like acetabula. 

 that it requires greal force and strength !> de;.ach Uiem. \Vhen 

 removed, aiid thrown upon the sand, they progress rapidly in a 

 sidelong, shufllino- manner, extendino thoir lonu arms. eje< 

 1 heir ink-like fluid in sudden, violent jets, and staring aboui wiMi 

 their Inline shinin.u' eyes, which at ni^lit are luminous.Jike a < 

 in a very ^roiesipie and hideous manner. AKTIHK 



III. Sepiola Atlanfica. Orb. Kespectiim' this specit-s. Mr. 

 A Ider writes as follows from Menai S. rails; This is an odd 

 fish, crouching generally at the bottom, like a toad, with its ^reat 

 U oi:u-|e-eyes half-closed, and someiimes cra\\linir alonu ly means 

 of its suckers, pull'mir the water tlirono-li (he funnel all ! he time. 

 \\'hen it does take to swimming, i! darts \ery <|tiickly ! hroiii-!i 

 the waier and is difficult t< <-aich. \ 4 \'hen taken on' of the \\ 

 and placed on the hand, it had recourse to an odd mode of pro- 

 LiTession. t uriiiiiu' two or three somersatibs in rei-ul:ir tumbler 

 fashion; first layiiiLi" hold with ils amis, turning over, and IM\ i up- 

 hold :ijr:iu. until it managed to ^et back into the wa 



l\'. I was much interested, on several occasions, by watching 

 the habits of an Octopus or cut! le-lish. A llliou.ii'li common in 

 the pools of water left by the reiirini- tide, these animals w-n- 



* Zool. Voy. Smiiaraii-/' j. 1. |s.-) 

 f "Report Brit. Assoc.," 7:5, 1 



