No. 418.] NOTES ON LIVING NAUTILUS. 835 
them.! When roughly touched, however, they will merely retract. 
On one occasion only did I observe the separation of the tentacles 
around the mouth and the protrusion of the jaws, to the degree 
shown in Fig. t. I was not able to induce the animals to feed. 
I noticed, however, that in specimens which had recently died 
little effort is needed to draw the jaws forward to a surprising 
degree, so that they would stand well outside of the proximal 
portions of the tentacles. And I think that there is little 
doubt that the jaws can be used in a position which one would 
: tof its shell. Th 
Fic. 14. — Side view of Nautilus shown hanging is positi 
after the animal has been held for some time hood downward. 
hardly be led to expect from an examination of preserved speci- 
mens. Accordingly I infer that the tentacles are of less impor- 
tance in the mechanical operation of feeding than is popularly 
believed. When the jaws are drawn out, as above noted, the 
tongue is found to lie far forward, curving outward between 
the tips of the jaws. Nautilus is already well known to have 
a similar diet to that of other cephalopods. Its fondness for 
animal food in a decomposing condition I note from hear- 
Say. I found, however, that with its strong jaws and rasping 
1 Willey in his notes convinces me that I have not examined the tentacles 
When at their best, for he has seen them “adhere so firmly to à foreign quet 
to e torn away from the animal when the foreign body is forcibly cca 
(Q. J. M. S., 1898, p- 207.) His figure indicates that the tentacles when firmly 
attached become partially retracted, at least as far as their tips are concemed. 
