THE CUTTLE-FISH TRIBE. ^S l 



Pursu'd he bids the sable fountain flow, 

 And, wrapt in clouds, eludes th' impending foe. 

 The fish retreats unseen, while self-born night, 

 With pious shade, befriends her parent's flight 1 *. 



Svvammerdam was of opinion that Indian ink is no- 

 thing more than this black fluid in an inspissated 

 state, with the addition of perfumes. If Indian ink 

 be dissolved in water in any considerable quantity, 

 in the space of a few days it acquires a very high de- 

 gree of putridity, clearly indicating its being formed 

 of some animal substance ; and no other seems so 

 well calculated to compose it as this. 



The male always accompanies the female, and 

 when she is attacked will brave every danger, and 

 attempt her rescue even at the hazard of his own 

 life. As soon as she observes her partner to be 

 wounded she immediately escapes, her timidity not 

 suffering her to afford him any assistance. When 

 these animals are dragged out of the water, they 

 make a noise somewhat like the grunting of a hog. 



The young are produced from eggs deposited on 

 the sea-weed, in parcels exactly resembling a bunch 

 of grapes. These are at first white, but after their 

 impregnation by the male they become black: they 

 are round, with a little point at the end, and in each 

 of them is contained a Cuttle-fish surrounded by a 

 gelatinous fluid. 



The Officinal Cuttle-fish^ was in great esteem by 



* Jones's Oppian. + Sepia officinalis of Linnaeus. 



Nn 4 



