SEPIA. CUTTLE. Class VI. 



This (in common with the other species) 

 emits, when frightened or pursued, the black 

 liquor which the antients supposed darkened 

 the circumambient wave, and concealed it from 

 the enemy. 



Srjirla, avts SoAoqgocrvvyjtri, &e, 



Th' endanger'd Cuttle thus evades his fears, 

 And native hoards of fluid safety bears. 

 A pitchy ink peculiar glands supply, 

 Whose shades the sharpest beam of light defy. 

 Pursu'd he bids the sable fountains flow, 

 And wrapt in clouds eludes th' impending foe. 

 The fish retreats unseen, while self-born night. 

 With pious shade befriends her parent's flight.* 



The antients sometimes made use of it instead 

 of ink. Persius mentions the species in his 

 description of the noble student. 



Jam liber, ct bicolor positis membrana capillis, 

 Inque manus chartas, nodosaque venit arundo. 

 Turn querimur, crassus calamo qubd pendeat humor j 

 Nigra qubd infusa vanescat Sepia Lympha.-f* 



At length, his book he spreads ; his pen he takes : 



His papers here, in learned order lays ; 



And there, his parchment's smoother side displays. 



Bat oh ! what crosses wait on studious men, 



The Cuttle's juice hangs clotted at our pen. 



In all my life such stuff I never knew, 



So gummy thick — Dilute it, it will do. 



Nay, now' tis water ! Dryden. 



* Jones's Translation of Oppiaris Halieut. lib. iii. f Sat. iii. 



