206 MOLLUSCA. 



whose ruthless gripe their shell affords a very insuf- 

 ficient protection. When enraged, it appears the 

 Poulpe will not scruple to attack man himself, and 

 proves on such occasions a most formidable ad- 

 versary. Mr. Beale has described an encounter 

 which he had with a Cephalopod, probably of this 

 genus, while occupied in searching for shells among 

 the rocks of the Bonin Islands. He was much 

 astonished at seeing at his feet a most extraordinary 

 looking animal, crawling towards the surf, which it 

 had only just left. It was creeping on its eight 

 legs, which, from their soft and flexible nature, bent 

 considerably under the weight of its body, so that 

 it was lifted by the efforts of its tentacula only a 

 small distance from the rocks. It appeared much 

 alarmed at seeing him, and made every effort to 

 escape. Mr. Beale endeavoured to stop it by press- 

 ing on one of its legs with his foot; but, although 

 he used considerable force for that purpose, its 

 strength was so great that it several times libe- 

 rated its member in spite of all the efforts he could 

 employ on the wet and slippery rocks. He then 

 laid hold on one of the tentacles with his hand, and 

 held it firmly, so that it appeared as if the limb 

 would be torn asunder by the united efforts of him- 

 self and the creature. He then gave it a powerful 

 jerk, wishing to disengage it from the rocks to which 

 it clung so forcibly by its suckers. This effort it 

 effectually resisted ; but, the moment after, the ap- 

 parently enraged animal lifted its head with its 

 large projecting eyes, and loosing its hold of the 



