81 . 



There are other species, as well as the nearly allied Genus 

 Cynthia, on our coast; but they are here omitted for want of 

 a recent opportunity for comparison. 



SINGLE CUIRASSIANS. 



SQUILLIANS. 



GENUS SQUILLA : the carapace in three distinct lobes; 

 lateral appendix of the three last thoracic legs long, slender 

 and stvliform. Claws of the hands flat and strongly denti- 

 culated on the inner border. 



DESMAREST'S SQUILLA. S. Desmarestii. M.Edwards' 

 Crust., vol. 2, p. 523. Loudon's Mag. Nat., Hist. vol. 6, 

 p. 230 and vol. 8, p. 462. 

 Rare. A few specimens have come into my possession ; 



and it seems to be the species alluded to by Pennant and Tur- 



ton, under the name of Mantis. 



SEPIAD^E. 

 CUTTLE FISHES. 



GENUS SEPIA : The body furnished with a narrow fin 



round its circumference. 

 BOM CUTTLE. S. Officinalis. Fleming's Br. An., p. 252. 

 Figure in Gesner's Nomenclator, de Mollibus, p. 186. 

 Common, keeping near the bottom ; and I have known 

 hundreds, or perhaps thousands, to be found swimming, their 

 heads having been bitten off by an herd of Cetaceans, which 

 had been unable to swallow the body, on account of the hard 

 shell, that had been broken in the effort. This internal shell 

 or dorsal bone, is used for polishing, and has had medical 

 virtues ascribed to it : being used with other ingredients, 

 under the name of Mouseshell, to excite perspiration. 

 GENUS LOLIGO: Sides of the body only having fins. 

 CUTTLE. L. Vulgaris. Fleming's Br. An., p 252. Sepia 

 L. Lin., Pennant, vol. 4, pi. 27. fig. 43. Common, and 

 sometimes abundant, but changing quarters aecordinj, to the 

 season and weather. In the autumn companies of them, 

 either in eagerness after prey, or through fear, will some- 

 times rush on the shore and be stranded. On the occur- 

 rence of a difficulty, their colour changes to dark red, and 

 on the appearance of an enemy their method of escape, 

 common to the genus, is to diffuse their ink in the water, 

 escaping under cover of the obscurity ; and this may be 

 done two or three times in succession, the advance or re- 

 treat being without turning the body. 



The Cuttle is a favourite bait among fishermen, few fish 

 being able to resist it. To catch them they are enticed near 

 the boat by a bait, and then secured with a rod armed at the 

 end with several hooks ; but they are easily caught at night, 



