276 MOLLUSCA. 
III.—SEPIA. 
PHYLUM MOLLUSCA (p. 282). 
Crass CEPHALOPODA (p. 284). 
Sepia officinalis is a large mollusc, often nearly a foot 
in length. It is found commonly round our coasts, though 
more abundant in the south. It lives a free, roaming, pelagic 
life, and is a voracious flesh-eater. Its dried shell is often 
found cast up on the shore. The animal consists of a head 
and Jody. The body is flattened and shield-shaped, with a 
lateral expansion or fin along each 
Fig. 194.—DorsaL View edge. The head has ten tentacles, 
OF THE COMMON CUTILE of which the fourth pair are as long 
(Sepia tia as the body and bear a pad of 
A suckers at the end. The other 
eight have four rows of small 
suckers on their inner surface. A 
dead “‘cuttle” appears of a dull 
white colour with patches of drab, 
but in life there is a beautiful play 
of colour and light over the whole 
surface of the body. This is 
caused by a number of chromato- 
phores or pigment cells which are 
actively contractile, and hence can 
alter their extent. The result is 
an ever-changing colour and irid- 
escence. In a general way, the 
upper surface of the body is of a 
dark brown hue. It is horizontally 
striped inst irregular bands of white and the fins are 
similarly dotted with white. The dorsal surface of the 
head is also brown. The tentacles and the whole under- 
surface are pearly white. Sepia is plano-symmetric to a 
marked degree, and there is no trace of torsion as in the 
snail. The mouth is situated between the tentacles and 
is armed by a pair of powerful horny jaws or beaks, not 
unlike those of some parrots in size and appearance. The 
head is connected to the ‘body by a constricted mech, 
around which hangs the front edge of the mantle. 
