236 THE WILD. 



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

 siderably 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 endea- 

 voured to stop it by pressing 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 

 liberated its member, in spite of all the efforts he could 

 employ on the wet and slippery rocks. He then laid 

 hold of 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 himself and the creature. 

 He then gave it a powerful jerk, wishing to disentangle 

 it from the rocks to which it clung so forcibly by its 

 suckers. This effort it effectually resisted ; but, the 

 moment after, the apparently enraged animal lifted its 

 head, with its large projecting eyes, and, loosing its hold 

 of the rocks, suddenly sprang upon Mr Beale's arm, 

 (which he had previously bared to the shoulder for the 

 purpose of thrusting it into holes in the rocks after shells,) 

 and clung to it by means of its suckers with great power, 

 endeavouring to get its beak, which could now be seen 

 between the roots of its arms, in a position to bite. A 

 sensation of horror pervaded his whole frame, when he 

 found that this monstrous animal had fixed itself so 

 firmly on his arm. He describes its cold, slimy grasp as 

 extremely sickening ; and he loudly called to the captain, 

 who was similarly engaged at some distance, to come and 

 release him of his disgusting assailant. The captain 



