CEPHALOPODS. 



473 



designs and figures, which form graceful objects. Similar vases were 

 formerly shaped in Europe, which found their way into great houses. 

 In our days they are generally consigned to cabinets of curiosities 

 and the shops of dealers in articles of vertu. 



DiBRANCHIATA. 



Owen's second order, Dibranchiata, contains six families : The 

 first is Spirulidce, containing the curious genus Spirula, that little 

 gem amongst oceanic shells. The second family is Sepiadce, con- 

 taining the genus Sepia. The third is Belemnitidce, with the genera 



Fig. 322. — Shell of Nautilus pompUius (Linnseus). 



Belemnites, and Belemnoteuthis. The fourth, TeuthidicB, with Loligo, 

 Sepiola, Omtnastrephes, and others. The fifth, OctopodcB, with Octopus 

 and Eledone. And the sixth, Argonautidcs, with the genus Argo- 

 nauta. The order is most conveniently divided into two sections : 

 the first, those Dibranchiates with eight arms — Octopoda, including 

 the last two families ; the second, those with ten arms — Dccapoda, 

 including the first four families. 



To this group belong the Cuttle-fish, Squids, and Argonauts, 

 among existing species, and the Belemnites among the fossil species. 

 Some of these creatures are large, and essentially flesh-eaters, or 

 carnivorous; and, if we may believe all that has been written respecting 

 them, very formidable ones. Listen to Michelet, while he wonderfully 

 paints the humour of these inhabitants of the deep : — " The Medusae 

 and Molluscs," says this popular author, "are generally innocent 



