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CHAP. II. 



The Number, Shape, and Meihanljm 

 of the Suckers. 



late I HP H E Mechanifm and Action of 

 fig. 2. the Suckers depends partly upon 



their Shape, which, when they are ex- 

 tended, refembles "nearly that of art 

 Acorn-cup, and partly upon a deep 

 ] 5 te L circular cartilaginous Rinsr. armed with 

 fmall Hooks, which is fecured in a thin 

 Membrane fomething tranfparent by 

 the Projection of a Ledge inverting its 

 whole Circumference about the Mid- 

 dle of its Depth, and not to be ex- 

 traded without fome Force, 



Each Sucker is fattened by a 

 tendinous Stem to the Arm of the A- 

 nimalj which Stem, together with 

 Part of the Membrane that is be- 

 low the Circumference of the car- 

 tilaginous Ring, rifes into and fills 

 its whole Cavity, when the Ani- 

 mal contracts the Sucker for Action : 

 In this State whatever touches it, is 

 firft held by the minute Hooks, 

 'which infinuate themfelves betwixt 



the 



