o MM. \sTIl KIM IKS. 



in the Oxford clay , Solenhofen (Liassic). :tnl there is M tertiary 

 species. 



Ommastrephes illi't'clirnxa was observed amono; the wharves at 

 l'ro\ incctown. Mass.. during the month of .Inly. enii'aiivd in 

 capt urinir and devouring the youn- mackerel. which were swim- 

 ming about in schools, and at thai time were aliont I'onr or live 

 inches lono-. In attacking the mackerel they would suddenly dart 

 backward aniono- the tish. with the velocity of an arrow. and as 

 suddenly turn obliquely to tin- riii'ht or left and sci/c a lish. 

 which was almost instantly killed by :i bite in the hack of the 

 neck, with the sharp beaks. The bite was always made in the 

 same place, cutting- out a t rianirular piece of Mesh, and was deep 

 enough to penetrate to the spinal cord. The attacks were not 

 always successful, and were sometimes repented a do/en times 

 before one of these active and wary fishes could be caiiirht. 

 Sometimes, after making several unsuccessful attempts, one of 

 the squids would suddenly drop to the bottom, and. resting upon 

 the sand, change its color to that of the sand so perfectly, as 

 be almost invisible. In this way it would wait until the fishes 

 came back, and when they were swimming close to or over the 

 ambuscade, the squid, by a sudden dart. Avould be pretty sure to 

 secure a lish. Ordinarily, when swimming, they were thickly 

 ed with red and brown, but when darting :nnon<r the 

 mackerel, they appeared translucent and pale. The mackerel. 

 however, seemed to have learned that t he shallow water is t he 

 safest for them, and would huir the shore as closely as possible. 

 so that in pursuing t hem many of the squids became stranded. 

 and perished by hundreds, for when they once touch the short'. 

 they bcLnn to pump water from their siphons with n'reat energy. 

 and this usually force- them farther and farther up the beach. 

 At sucl i times they usually discharge their ink in lar^e quantities. 

 The attacks <>n the voting mackei'el were observed mostlv at or 

 near hii_ r h water, for at other limes the mackerel were seldom 

 -ecu. though the squid- were -ecu swimming about at all hours : 

 and these attacks Were observed both in the day and evenina'. 

 P>ut it is probable, from various observations, that this and the 

 Other species of Squids are partially nocturnal in their habits. 

 r at least are more active in the nirlit than in the day. Those 



