CUTTLE-FISHES. 



239 



parrot. They move rapidly through the water, not by 

 means of limbs or fins, but by the expulsion of a jet of 

 water through a funnel-like tube, which drives them in the 

 contrary direction. When threatened with danger, they 

 have a curious means of defending themselves in their ink- 

 sac. This contains an 

 inky secretion, which 

 the creature pours out 

 when pursued : the water 

 all about becomes dark, 

 rendering the cuttle-fish 

 invisible to its enemy, 

 who thus makes his 

 escape under a cloud. 

 From early times ac- 

 counts have been handed 

 down of huge cuttle- 

 fishes — monsters large 

 enough to grasp, and 

 drag under the water, 

 whole ships with their 

 crews. Until lately, 

 these stories were classed 

 with such absurdities as 

 that of the remora ar- 



CUTTLE-FISH. 



resting the progress of ships. A few years ago, how- 

 ever, one of these very monsters was encountered by two 

 fishermen off the coast of Newfoundland ; and prob- 

 ably their story would have been discredited, as are the 

 ever-recurring stories of the appearance of the sea-serpent, 



