ORDER CEPHALOPODA. 17 



into three groups ; first, those without any external 

 shell, as the Sepia ; secondly, the inhabitants of a shell 

 without any divisions, as the Argonaut ; and, thirdly, 

 those whose shell is divided into numerous chambers, as 

 the Nautilus. 



The Cuttle Fish, {Sepia officinalis.) 

 The Cuttle Fish, of which there are many different spe- 

 cies, is a native of ^all the temperate and tropical seas. 

 Its body is, in general, of an irregular oval shape, and of 

 a jelly-like substance, and usually covered with a coarse 

 skin, having the appearance of leather. Unlike all 

 other inhabitants of the water which are without a 

 backbone, the Sepia possesses two large and brilliant 

 eyes, covered with a hard transparent substance." 



The Cuttle Fish, figured in the engraving, is fur- 

 nished in front with eight arms or feelers, with which 

 it grapples with its enemy, or conveys its prey to its 

 mouth. These arms are most curiously constructed, 

 and afford it ample means of defence; they possess in 

 themselves a strong muscular power, and this is mate- 

 rially assisted by numerous cups or suckers, placed 

 along the whole of their inner surface, with which they 

 fasten themselves to any object they come in contact 

 with. These feelers appear to be also endued with some 

 peculiar power, of a galvanic nature ; since the pain 

 which they intiict does not cease for a long time after 

 the removal of the animal, leaving a kind of stinging 

 sensation, like that produced by nettles, which remains 

 for many hours, and is followed by a troublesome irrita- 

 tion and itching. 



The size to which this creature grows has been va- 

 riously stated ; and, although evidently exaggerated by 



