GASTEROPODA 399 



which it has passed is thus darkened, and the cuttle-fish is probably- 

 lost to sight. 



It is from this inky fluid that the colour known as "sepia" 

 is prepared. As soon as the cuttle-fish has been killed, the ink-bag 

 is removed from its body, and the contents poured into a vessel 

 and allowed to stand for a time. The liquid is afterwards poured 

 off", and the sediment formed into cakes. 



From some kinds of cuttle-fish, too, a very fine and pure chalk 

 is procured, being found in the form of a " bone ", as it is improperly 

 termed, for it is the shell, which lies buried in the flesh. This 

 so-called "bone" is easily detached, and may not uncommonly 

 be found lying upon the sea-shore. 



The beak of the cuttle-fish, which has already been mentioned, 

 is hard, sharp, and strong, and shaped very much like that of a 

 parrot. It consists also of two mandibles, like that of a bird. The 

 tongue is closely set with a number of sharp, hook-like spines, 

 all directed backwards. 



Like lizards, star-fishes, and other creatures still lower in the 

 scale, the cuttle-fish has the power of reproducing a severed 

 member. The conger-eel is one of its most deadly foes, and 

 likes nothing better than a tentacle torn from the body of a 

 cuttle-fish. The injured animal, however, seems to suff'er little 

 from the mutilation, the wound rapidly heals, and in due course, 

 it is said, the missing member is replaced by another. 



The eggs of these singular animals are fastened to a sea- 

 plant in large clusters, and, being of a dark purple colour, bear 

 a curious resemblance to a bunch of grapes. By fishermen and 

 others, indeed, they are often called " sea-grapes ". 



GASTEROPODA 



The stomach -footed Molluscs are well represented by the 

 Snails and Whelks, the one being typical of the land group, the 

 other of the aqueous group. 



