164 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



There are forty-six species of Octopus known to naturalists, and their distribution appears to 

 extend to all the rocky coasts, both in the temperate and tropical regions of the earth. 



The Pinnoctopus, or finned Octopus, discovered by MM. Quoy and Gairnard on the coast of New 

 Zealand, exceeds three feet in length. Its body is furnished with two lateral fins united behind. 



The Eledone, like the Octopus, is found on British coasts and 

 also on the shores of the Mediterranean and as far north as Norway. 

 It has only a single row of suckers on each arm. It is diminutive in 

 size as compared with its cousin the Octopus. One species (Eledone 

 mosckatci) emits a musky smell when irritated or disturbed. 



All the species of Octopus possess the faculty shared by certain 

 fishes, and by the Chamseleon. of varying the colour of their bodies 

 to correspond with the hue of the rocky or sandy shore on which 

 they desire to lie concealed. They also change colour remarkably 

 when irritated, becoming as it were " flushed," like an angry school- 

 boy. The Eledone makes itself of a peculiarly heightened colour 

 when angry. 



In Cirroteuthis the body is furnished with two transverse fins, 

 whilst the eight arms or tentacles are joined by a web-like expansion 

 of the body-membrane, so as to form a small inverted parachute or 

 umbrella, for the capture of its prey. This is one of the most 

 northern species of Cephalopods known: the single species C. 

 coasts of Greenland. It has no shell. Its colour is violet, and it is 



PIXNOCTOPVS. 



mulleri inhabiting the 

 only ten inches in length. 



Philonexis is the smallest of all the Octopods, being from one to three inches in length. It is 

 gregarious in habits, and is one of the few Octopi which have been met with in the open sea, in the Medi- 

 terranean, and the Atlantic. Its arms support two rows of suckers. It feeds on small floating mollusca. 



Lastly, the Tremoctopus, which has its arms partially, or all, webbed half-way up, is remarkable 

 for possessing two large aquiferous pores (or tremata) on the 

 back of the head. Tremoctopus is a free-swimming Cepha- 

 lopod, met with in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. 



Darwin states that the living Octopods are slightly 

 phosphorescent in the dark. The Octopus, when at rest, curls 

 its dorsal arms over its back, like the Argonaut, shadowing 

 forth, as Forbes believed, the origin and relation of the shell. 



About 1780, Denys de Montfort published a work 

 entitled " Historic Naturelle Generale et Particuliere des 

 Mollusques," in which, at Vol. II., p. 256, he gives a 

 representation of a gigantic Octopus throwing its arms 

 over a three-masted vessel. It is stated that he said 

 to his colleague, M. Defrance, " If my entangled ship 

 is accepted, I will, in my next edition, represent it 

 embracing the Straits of Gibraltar, or capsizing a whole 

 squadron of ships." (D'Orbigny.) 



Although the Cephalopods are seldom eaten in Great Britain, they are appreciated as food by 

 nearly all other maritime nations. Along the western coast of France, and in the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean and Adriatic, they form a portion of the habitual sustenence of the people, and 

 are regularly exposed for sale in the markets, both in a fresh and dried condition. Salted Cuttles and 

 Octopus are there eaten during Lent as commonly as salted Cod are brought to table in England on 

 Good Friday ; and, thus prepared, generally form a portion of the provisions supplied to the Greek 

 fishing-boats and coasters. " During Advent and Lent, the Octopus is largely consumed by the 

 Orthodox Greek Catholics, amongst whom the use of fish and meat is prohibited in those seasons of 

 abstinence. This strange diet is chiefly obtained from Tunis, and in the Levant and Greek markets 

 its trade name is ' octopodia,' or ' polypi.' In a good season, the Island of Karkenah supplies about 



CIRKOTEUTHIS MfLLERI. 



