26 



chromatophores could then be seen to dilate and contract at 

 intervals, assuming during the process a great variety of forms, 

 the principal ones being circular, fusiform, stellate, and annular, 

 sometimes one would entirely disappear to start forth again 

 in a few moments in undiminished magnitude. The chrom- 

 atophores continued to undergo the variations in size and 

 form just described, in a portion of the integument which have 

 been removed from the rest of the body many hours previously. 

 The wonderful play of colours exhibited by the living animal 

 was shown to result from the action of the chromatophores." 

 Dr. Burden stated that he had obtained several living speci- 

 mens of Sepiola last summer at Orlock Point, near Grooms- 

 port, and had kept them alive in a glass jar filled with salt 

 water for many days. It was one of these specimens that he 

 now presented to the notice of the meeting. He then 

 described their amusing habits ; the rapidity with which they 

 change colour when alarmed or irritated ; the peculiarity of 

 the dark fluid discharged from the ink bag 5 which did not 

 diffuse itself so as to conceal the animal as in other cuttle 

 fishes ; the ingenious manner in which the creature buried 

 itself all but the eyes, in the sand, &c. The anatomical 

 structure of the animal was then briefly sketched. The recent 

 researches of Hensen, with regard to the anatomy of the eye, 

 were alluded to. The relations of the pigmentary and nervous 

 coats of the eye, which had for a long time been a source of 

 perplexity to physiologists and anatomists, were shown to be 

 strictly in accordance with the laws which regulate the trans- 

 mission of luminous impressions to the sensorium in other 

 cases. The animal — the appearance, habits, and structure of 

 which had been described — was adduced as an example of a 

 well defined class, designated, from the position of the feet, 

 Cephalopoda; all the individuals included in which were 

 believed to agree with each other, and differ from every 

 other animal in the arrangement of the lobes of the 

 divided foot in the form of a circle round the head, and in the 



