226 CEPHALOPODS. 



" I was much amused by the various arts to escape detection used by one individual, 

 which seemed fully aware that I was watching it. Remaining for a time motionless, it 

 would then stealthily advance for an inch or two, like a cat after a mouse, sometimes 

 changing its colour ; it thus proceeded till, having gained a deeper part, it darted away, 

 leaving a dusky train of ink to hide the hole into which it had crawled." DARWIN, 

 " Voyage of the Beagle" 



The Calamaries (Loligo}. In the Octopus above described the arms or 

 tentacles are only eight in number, and all nearly of equal dimensions ; but 

 in the Calamaries their number is increased to ten, the additional pair being 

 lengthened into slender cables, at the end of which suckers are grouped to- 

 gether upon flat disks, and thus serve the purpose of anchors whereby the 

 animal attaches itself to the rocks, and rides securely in a tempestuous sea. 

 The general form of the body is comparatively slender, and towards the hinder 

 extremity is provided with a pair of triangular fins, wherewith it is enabled to 

 shoot through the water like an arrow. Embedded in the fleshy substance of 

 the back is a long transparent plate of horn, which in shape bears some re- 

 semblance to a pen : it is to the presence of this curious support that these 

 animals are indebted for their name (calamus, a pen) ; they are likewise 

 called "pen- fishes." 



The Squids (Loligo piscatoruiii}, or as they are called by our fishermen, 

 "sleeves," or "hose-fish," are of great value as a bait. With these cuttles, 

 indeed, one-half of all the cod taken at Newfoundland is caught. They occur 

 in vast numbers, at different times on different coasts, and their large shoals 

 present a curious appearance. When they approach, hundreds of vessels are 

 ready for their capture. At some seasons as many as 400 to 500 sail of 

 English and French ships are engaged in the cuttle-fish fishery. During 

 violent gales, hundreds of tons are often thrown up together in beds on the 

 flat beaches, the decay of which spreads an intolerable effluvium around. 

 They are only used for bait, and instead of nets being employed for their 

 capture, they are "jigged" by means of an instrument composed of a number 

 of hooks made for the purpose. The cod is in best condition after having fed 

 on the squids. Calamaries are very prolific ; their eggs are deposited in the 

 form of numerous lengthened bands, radiating from a common centre, and 

 spreading every way into a circular form : each egg is of a glassy transpa- 

 rency, and the young animal may be very distinctly observed in each many 

 days before the period of their exclusion. These groups of eggs are often 

 seen floating on the surface of the sea, and are occasionally thrown on shore. 

 The whole group sometimes measures more than a foot in diameter, and from 

 its general appearance might easily be mistaken for a large jelly-fish 



The Hooked Squids (Onychoteuthis) in their general form and structure 

 resemble the Calamaries ; but the suckers, which arm the expanded disks at 

 the end of their long cable-like arms, are each of them provided with a strong 

 and sharp hook, composed of horny substance, that projects backwards, and 

 materially increases the tenacity of their grasp. 



The Cuttle-Fishes, properly so called (Sepia\ in addition to the sucker- 

 bearing arms of the Poulpe, are furnished with the long rope-like appendages 

 of the Calamary. The shape of the cuttle is round and robust, and its body 

 is furnished with a fleshy fin running along the entire length of each side. 



The Common Cuttle (Sefiia officinalis], numerous on our coasts, is about a 

 foot in length. The colour is a dirty white, but if examined when alive, there may be 

 observed a sort of network of lines of a reddish or purplish hue playing over the surface, 

 the markings continually changing their form and position, so as to cause a great variety 



