THE KRAKEN. 363 



and of the longer tentacles about the same as its body- 

 thus giving a total length of about 6 ft. 9 in. Although 

 individuals of other species, of larger dimensions, are known 

 to have existed, this is the largest specimen of the hook- 

 armed calamaries that has been scientifically examined. 

 It would have been a formidable antagonist to a man under 

 circumstances favourable to the exertion of its strength, and 

 the use of its prehensile and lacerating talons. 



Peron,* the well-known French zoologist, mentions having 

 seen at sea, in 1801, not far from Van Diemen's Land, at a 

 very little distance from his ship, Le Gtographe^ a " Sepia," 

 of the size of a barrel, rolling with noise on the waves ; its 

 arms, between 6 and 7 feet long, and 6 or 7 inches in 

 diameter at the base, extended on the surface, and writhing 

 about like great snakes. He recognised in this, and no 

 doubt correctly, one of the calamaries. The arms that he 

 saw were evidently the animal's shorter ones, as under such 

 circumstances, with neither enemy to combat nor prey to 

 seize at the moment, the longer tentacles would remain 

 concealed. 



Quoy and Gaimardf report that in the Atlantic Ocean, 

 near the Equator, they found the remains of an enormous 

 calamary, half eaten by the sharks and birds, which could 

 not have weighed less, when entire, than 200 Ibs. A por- 

 tion of this was secured, and is preserved in the Museum of 

 Natural History, Paris. 



Captain Sander Rang % records having fallen in with, in 

 mid-ocean, a species distinct from the others, of a dark 

 red colour, having short arms, and a body the size of a 

 hogshead. 



* Voyage de Decouvertes aux Tcrres A us tr ales. 



f Voyage de VUranie : Zoologie, vol. i., part 2, p. 411. 1824. 



% Manuel des Mollusques, p. 86. 



