430 CEPHALOPODA. 



branchiae, which are here distinctly recognisable, form a circle of 

 of vascular leaflets enclosed in a cavity of the mantle situated 

 between the divisions of the shell, and so disposed that the water 

 has free admission to them through the two lateral fissures of its 

 testaceous defence. 



In Pneumodermon, again, the branchise occupy a totally different 

 situation ; the branchial leaflets being arranged in semicircular lines 

 upon the posterior extremity of the animal : but such modifications 

 of a general type of structure are of more interest to the zoologist 

 than to the physiological reader. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



CEPHALOPODA* (Cuv.) 



(472.) WE now arrive at the highest order of Mollusca, com- 

 posed of animals distinguished by most strange and paradoxical 

 characters, and exhibiting forms so uncouth that the young zoolo- 

 gist, who for the first time encounters one of these creatures, may 

 well be startled at the anomalous appearance presented by beings so 

 remote in their external construction from everything with which 

 he has been familiar. 



Let him conceive an animal whose body is a closed bag con- 

 taining the viscera connected with digestion, circulation, and repro- 

 duction, furnished with a head and staring eyes ; that upon the 

 head are supported numerous and complex organs of locomotion, 

 used as feet or instruments of prehension ; moreover, that in the 

 centre of the locomotive apparatus, thus singularly situated, is a 

 strong and sharp horny beak resembling that of a parrot ; and he 

 will rudely picture to himself a Cephalopod, such as we are now 

 about to describe. 



(473.) The Octopus vulgaris, or common Poulpe, represent- 

 ed in the next figure, will serve as an example calculated to 

 prove, we apprehend, that the above is no exaggerated statement ; 

 and, should the student unexpectedly observe an animal of this 

 kind walking towards him upon the beach in the position there de- 

 lineated, his curiosity would doubtless be excited to learn some- 

 thing of its habits and economy. 



* xs<|)a>.>j, the head ; -rovs, wo^oj, the foot. 



