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THE EUROPEAN SEAS. 



163 



illustrate what happens with respect to marine ani- 

 mals generally ; where the distinct forms are few, 

 the individuals are numerous, and where they are 

 more varied, there the common forms are individu- 

 ally less abundant. About the shores of the Eastern 

 Mediterranean the common Sepia officinalis is so 

 numerous, that the " cuttle-bones " may be seen in 

 places heaped by the waves into a ridge, which 

 fringes the sea for miles. " As in ancient times," 

 says Ed. Forbes, "these mollusks constitute now 

 a valuable part of the food of the poor, by whom 

 they are mostly used. One of the most striking 

 spectacles at night on the shores of the iEgean, is 

 to see the numerous torches glancing along the 

 shores and reflected by the still and clear sea, borne 

 by poor fishermen paddling as silently as possible 

 over the rocky shallows in search of the cuttle-fish, 

 which, when seen lying beneath the water in wait 

 for his prey, they dexterously spear, ere the creature 

 has time to dart with the rapidity of an arrow 

 from the weapon about to transfix his soft but firm 

 body." 



It is this power of rapid motion, together with 

 pelagic habits, that gives to so large a portion 

 of the Cephalopods an extensive range in latitude, 

 and seemingly in this direction only, for with the 

 exception of the " poulp " {Octopus vulgaris), which 

 occurs in all seas, the species of the two sides of 

 the Atlantic are quite distinct. Though mostly 

 pelagic, they all approach the shore at particular 



