MOLLUSC A. 



or cells all connected by a tube or siphuncle, as in the nau- 

 tilus. The animal is rarely seen alive, though, after a 

 storm, the keys of the outer Florida reef are often lined 

 with their empty shells. 



Giant Squids, etc. Small squids (Fig. 76) are 

 common in nearly all waters, but within a few years 

 specimens have been discov- 

 ered of gigantic size in the fiords 

 of Newfoundland and other parts 

 of the world. The largest found 

 was fifty-five feet long, the body 

 from the tip of the tail to the 

 beak twenty feet, and the long 

 tentacles thirty-five feet. The 

 body is bag-shaped, terminating 

 in an arrow-shaped tail ; the 

 head is distinct from the body, 

 with large, staring eyes ; about 

 the mouth are eight short and 

 two long arms, the former with 

 suckers on their entire length, 

 the latter having them princi- 

 pally at the ends. Beneath the 

 mouth is the siphon through 

 which they eject water and ink 

 the latter when alarmed. The 

 long arms are used to secure 

 prey, drawing it within the reach 

 of the smaller ones and the 

 beaks, that resemble those of 



a parrot, with the exception that the upper fits into the 

 lower. The body is supported internally by a long and 

 extremely delicate pen. They are carnivorous, living on 

 fish. The Loligo pallida is common on our coast. The 

 Cranchia has been seen to emit a faint phosphorescent 

 light. The large squids are extremely powerful, often 



FIG. 76. A, squid (Sepia offi- 

 cinalzs) ; B, horny ring of 

 sucker, showing saw-like 

 edge. 



