3710 The Zoologist — October, 1873. 



the cloud of sand which has been blown up settles, but which presently falls 

 around and upon the body. Another forcible puff in front, one on each 

 side, and another behind, follow in quick succession, the fine sand dis- 

 placed at each blast settHng round the animal, as it thrusts itself into the 

 hollow thus more and more deepened. I was not at first quite sure by what 

 agency these blowings, so admirably effective and suited to the purpose, 

 were performed. The jet in front I readily attributed to the action of the 

 fleshy funnel projecting from beneath the mantle on the breast ; but 1 did 

 not see how this could blow a stream directly backwards. I therefore put 

 one of my pets into a vessel with glass sides, which was furnished with the 

 requisite sand and water. I at once saw that the funnel was indeed the 

 organ employed, and the only one, in every case; and perceived its beautiful 

 adaptation for the work it had to do, in its extreme flexibiHty. This organ 

 is very protrusile, and being perfectly flexible, its orifice can be, and is, at 

 will pointed in any direction, so as to blow the jet of water forward, back- 

 ward, or to either side at pleasure. It frequently occurs, of course, that 

 small stones are mingled with the sand, or the animal may find it con- 

 venient to burrow in the loose gravel. In either case the arms come to the 

 aid of the funnel, the sucking disks with which they are furnished being 

 made to adhere to the stones, which are dragged out and thrown aside. 

 You may suppose this to be a clumsy expedient, but you would think 

 differently if you saw it ; the rapidity with which the arms are thrust under, 

 and drawn out, bearing pieces of stone of comparatively large size, and the 

 graceful case with which they are then thrown forward, discharging and 

 dropping the burden, impress the mind with admiration of the beautiful 

 fitness of the organization for the requirement. This use of the funnel, 

 and of the sucking arras, so different from their normal purposes, affords 

 additional examples of that Divine economy in creation, which, when a new 

 formation is ordained, does not always form new and special organs for the 

 necessity, but adapts some already employed in other service for the new 

 work ; while still both the one and the other function are fulfilled with such 

 perfection as shows that every emergency was foreseen and provided for in the 

 mighty plan, and that it was not for want of resources that distinct actions 

 are performed by the same"* instrumentality. We admire the skill of the 

 artizan who can effect different operations with the same tool, especially 

 when we see that each kind of work is of faultless excellence. The ordinary 

 employment of the sucking arms is no doubt the same as in other Cephalo- 

 poda, the capture and retention of prey. Of this T saw an instance in the 

 case of one of my Sepiolae which had seized a shrimp (Crangon trispinosus), 

 a sand-burrower hke itself, and was, when I saw it, holding it firmly against 

 the horny jaws, which were devouring it. The discharge of ink through the 

 funnel I have also witnessed, though this is far from being a frequent action 

 with this species. One of them that had been for a day or two in an 



