MOLLUSCA. 



Cuttle Fish, attacking a Chinese Junk. 



Cups, or Suckers of the Cuttle Fish. 



compel them to loosen their hold ; and if they are torn off, they are soon reproduced. They have, besides, 

 two feeders, much longer than .their arms, provided also with circular suckers. Their mouth is in the 

 centre, horny, and hooked, and strong enough to crush the molluscs, on which it feeds. 



When pursued, it ejects an inky fluid from the left side of the abdomen, which not only clouds the water, 

 so as to' conceal its retreat, but also renders it so bitter, as to drive away its foes. This fluid, when dried, 

 is used in making India ink. In hot climates they attain an enormous size, and sometimes successfully 

 atta?k boats and small vessels. 



The Argonauta Argo, commonly called the Paper-Nautilus, from the delicacy of its shell, though little 

 resembling the true Nautilus, belongs to the so-called Octopod group. Its shell has a single spiral cavity, 

 into which the animal can withdraw itself entirely, though it has no muscular attachment tliereto. 



It has eight arms, six of them tapering towards the extremities, and two expanding into wide mem- 

 branous flaps. It has been immemorially reported, that this animal swims on the surface of the water, 

 using its six arms, as oars, and spreading the two membranes as sails. This is an error. The arms are 

 used for swimming through the water, and for creeping along the bottom of the sea, and besides, it is by 

 tl >se that the material is" chiefly found out for the formation or repair of its shell. 



The Carinaria Mediterranea is similar to the Argonauta in its structure. It is found in the Indian 

 ocean, as w T ell as the Mediterranean. 



The Clio Borealis belongs to the class Pterapoda. It is adapted for swift locomotion through the water, 

 by a pair of fin-like organs, attached to the fore part of the body, and has a very complex internal struc- 

 ture. This species swarms in the Arctic seas, where it is familiarly known as whale's food, and appears to 

 abound equally in the Antartic waters. So glutted is the sea with them at times, that the whale cannot 

 open his mouth without engulfing thousands of them. 



Carinaria MeditoiTuueft. 



(367) 



I Borealis 



