HALF AN HOUR WITH SHELL-FISH. 189 



fall to their carnivorous habits. We have omitted 

 to mention that curious means possessed by cuttle- 

 fishes, of emitting a cloud of so-called " ink," by 

 means of which they can muddy the water and 

 conceal themselves. The fossil species seem to have 

 also been provided with it, for it has been found in a 

 fossil state, so well preserved through the millions 

 of years that had elapsed since it was secreted, that 



Fiff. 101. 



" Sea-grapes," or Eggs of Cuttle-fish. 



it was used for sketching the animal's portrait. 

 The bone of the common squid (Sepiola atlantica) is 

 very abundant on our shores. It has a horny ap- 

 pearance, and in shape is not unlike the spatulate 

 leaf of a plant. It is, however, very small, as the 

 animal to which it belonged was not above two 

 inches in length. Another common " Cuttle-bone " 

 to be met with is that of the calamary (Loligo 



