HETEROGANGLIATA. 



Invertebrated Animals. 



No. 18. 

 SEPIA OFFICINALIS. 



CUTTLE-FISH. 



Os Sepice. 



The animal substance. A medicinal agent. 



Cuttle-fish Bone. 



Geog. Position. Europe. 



Quality. Absorbent. 



Power. Antacid. 



Use. Tooth-powder, forming moulds, polishing, pounce. 



SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS. 



Natural Classification. 

 2. DIVISION Heterogangliata. CLASS Cephalopoda. 



Brandt and Ratzeburg, Med. Zoolog. II. 299. Jones, An. King. 441. Pereira, 

 Mat. Med. II. 770. Thomson, Mat. Med. *71. U. S. Disp. 1322. Wyatt, Nat. 

 Hist. 103. 



GENUS SEPIA. 

 Seche (Fr.), Der blackfisch (Ger.). 



THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS. 



Head rounded and provided with two large eyes, sessile. Ap- 

 paratus of hearing situated in two little cavities, one on 

 each side, without external meatus or semicircular canal, 

 and inclosing a membranous sac in which is suspended a 

 small stone. 



Body inclosed in a bag, mantle. 



Mouth armed with strong horny jaws, like the beak of a par- 

 rot ; about its opening, long fleshy arms, extremely vigor- 

 ous, capable of being flexed in every direction, and provided 

 with suckers. 



Branchice receive the venous blood under the influence of the 

 contractions of two fleshy ventricles situated at the base of 

 each. Aortic heart, composed of one ventricle only. 



Stomach extremely complicated ; a peculiar gland secretes a 

 blackish humor, which is kept in a pouch, diversely situated 

 according to the species. 



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