34 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



point ; cavity filled with laminge, separated by numerous 

 cells. Animal, with an oblong body, the fins as long as 

 itself ; suckers in four rows on the arms. — 30 species ; 

 also fossil. 



The shell of the Sepia officirialis (cuttle-fish) is used 

 for making pounce and tooth-powder; the substance is 

 composed of numerous testaceous laminse, separated from 

 each other by a perpendicularly fibrous calcified tissue, 

 exhibiting a shining white and satiny lustre. 



Brought principally from India, though found on our 

 coast and the Mediterranean. Mr. F. D. Bennet states 

 that the cuttle-fish is considered a luxury by all classes of 

 the Sandwich Islanders, and that when fresh and well 

 cooked it is excellent, being in consistence and flavour not 

 unlike the flesh of a lobster's claw.* 



There are some very extraordinary accounts given of 

 the supposed size and power of these mollusca by De 

 Montford, in Buflbn's Histoire Naturelle, but, though ex- 

 ceedingly amusing, their accuracy is now doubtful. Some 

 are described as large enough to draw down men-of-war 

 at sea, and completely destroy them. But this is an ex- 

 aggeration no doubt, though there are some species that 

 grow to a very large size. Mr. Swainson remarks in his 

 Malacology that he saw many caught on the shores of 

 Sicily, and that two would be a heavy load, their arms 

 beinir as thick as those of a man. 



Teutitopsis. Deslong champs. — Shell, a pen, like that 

 of Loligo, but dilated and spatulate, with a narrow mid 

 rib. — 5 species, fossil. 



Leptoteutiiis. Meyer. — Shell, a pen, very broad in 

 front, pointed behind, with obscure diverging ribs. — 

 1 species. L. gigas. 



* Narrative of a Whaling Voyage round the World. 



