128 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



Long John turned the animal so that its 

 mouth and beak were up, and then a pint of 

 alcohol was poured over it, stupefying the creat- 

 ure so that with a knife the grains were quickly 

 and easily detached. 



" Jump in, boys," said the doctor, when the 

 others came up ; " we have enough bait, and 

 while we are on the way to the fishing-grounds 

 I will give you a few points on the devil-fishes, 

 as they are called." 



" Shake out the sail ! " santr out Lono- John ; 

 " and, Mr. Tom, you take the tiller, keep for the 

 middle buoy off Sand Key, and we'll strike it." 



The boat payed off before the mild trade- 

 wind, the sail filled, and they were soon under 

 way. 



" In the first place," said the doctor, as he 

 settled himself against the sail in a comfortable 

 position, " you must remember that this curious 

 eight-armed fellow, and all the squids, belong to 

 the highest division of the shells or niollusks. 

 They are called cephalopods, from two Greek 

 words meaning ' head -footed.' You see they 

 have a distinct head. Some have their shells 



