THE POLYPUS. 97 



alludes, and not the Pectunculus of the moderns, 

 will appreciate the excellence of the com- 

 parison. 



Of his genus toXvttovq, which is equivalent to 

 the genus Octopus and its subdivision Eledone 

 in modern systems, Aristotle distinguishes six 

 species, four of them unprovided with shells, and 

 two living in shells. He remarks that the polypi 

 are the only cuttle-fish formed for walking, 

 which in consequence of the relative propor- 

 tions of their body and arms they can easily do. 

 Any person who ever dredged one of these 

 creatures, knows the rapidity with which it can 

 make its way by means of its long arms, even 

 when out of its native element. Aristotle states 

 it comes out of the water and walks in stony 

 places. In the sudden falls, lasting not very 

 long, of the sea level, which occur from various 

 causes in the bays of the countries in and round 

 the iEgean, these creatures may be met with 

 walking on the exposed shore, and so have led to 

 this notion ; but it is doubtful whether they ever 

 wander of their own choice above the usual 

 water-mark. iElian, however, who seems to have 

 decorated most of the observations he thought 

 worthy of record, tells us that the Octopus some- 



VOL . II. H 



