HABITS or TIIK (T.lMIALol'ohA. 



head with tlii' trunk. The tentacular arms remain cont racted 

 within tin- others when in repose: a position diilicult to under- 

 stand, as after death they are found lo lie more than double the 

 length of the sessile ann>. Sometimes the first p;iir of arms 

 are raised into a vertieal position, like antenn;e. ! he others pre- 

 serving their normal att it nde ; sometimes, also, the fourth pair 

 of arms drop towards the earth for a few moments, and much 



elongate themselves. 



The coloring of the Sepia is eminently variaMe; but if the day 

 is clear, the dorsal surface and arms are magnificently striped; 

 the edges of the tins are Mack, and their superior face is orna- 

 mented with spots of the same color. On the hack of large indi- 

 viduals is seen two large obscure spots, which vary in intensity 

 and sometimes entirely disappear. The eye is fatigued in fol- 

 lowing the incessant variation of coloring caused by the constant 

 movement of the pigment cells, and the metallic reflections of 

 the head and arms are glorious beyond human skill to reproduce. 

 The skin is usually smooth ; but when the animal becomes irri- 

 tated, it shows granulations, principally on the head and back. 

 This is accompanied by a retraction of the arms, which appear 

 both shorter and narrower; the extremities no longer touch, but 

 curve slightly. At the same time the colors change, a uniform 

 gray tint takes the place of the striped bands. The approach of 

 death is equally announced by a change of colors, which grow 

 dull. 



The swimming of the Sepia is differently effected, according to 

 the speed required. A moderate progression is equally easy 

 forwards or backwards. When t he animal moves forward, the 

 body remains horizontal; the tentacles, united and extended in 

 front, rest on the fourth pair of arms. The Sepia follows in this 

 manner the course of the water, t he resistance of which bends 

 the extremities Of the united arms. A moderate backward move- 

 ment is effected in the same manner; but the tentacles are more 

 elongated and t heir e\t remit ies are somewhat parted; the:irms 

 are raised to tin- line of the body. The undulations of the fins 

 commence at the front or rear, according to the direction which 

 t he animal takes. This method of swim mi nil. due entirely to 1 he 

 I'm*, is not slow, for the normal movement of the Sepia is easy, 

 elegant and rapid; but an occasion of disquiet ude. as the sight of 



