86 



Notes and Comments. 



which we reproduce on a slightly reduced scale. It is recorded 

 that : — -'At this place [St. Agnes, Cornwall], in the Creek, among 

 the Rocks, was taken a singular and most extraordinary Sea- 

 Animal, which we think may be properly called a Sea-Polypus : 

 It consists of a small Body about the bigness of the Palm of the 

 Hand, to which was annexed a hollow Pouch, and on the middle 

 part of the body was a curious beak, or Bill, about an Inch 

 and Half long, and three quarters of an inch wide, of a roundish 

 form, a Tortoise-shell colour, and curved somewhat like a 

 Parrot's Bill : from the body proceed eight legs, nearly at 

 an equal distance from each other, about an inch and a quarter 

 wide at the body, and nearly 30 inches long, of a tapering 



form, terminating in a point at the Extremity ; the Legs were 

 of fleshy and membraneous Substance and thick set with small 

 pouches, or Holes (about half an inch wide the largest), dimin- 

 ishing gradually towards the Extremity, in each leg. These 

 holes seemed destined to answer the design of Gills, in common 

 fish ; of these Holes, there were between 30 and 40 in each leg. 

 These legs were all contracted and enclosed in the pouch, or 

 loose bag, on one side of the body, and the animal lay seemingly 

 asleep, when first observed ; the person, however, striking it 

 with a stick, it expanded its legs with great violence, and put 

 itself, as it were, in a posture of defence ; but by repeated 

 blows, it was subdued, and it appeared of so surprising a Form, 

 and such an animal never before observed, we have thought 

 the representation of it, hereto annexed, would be very ac- 

 ceptable to our Readers.' 



Naturalist, 



