5 
IV. 
The Cephalopoda : theie Stettcttjke and Habits. 
By the Bev. Frederick Smithe, M.A., F. G.S. — Corresponding Member of 
the Bristol Naturalists' Society. 
Read at the General Meeting, February the 4ih, 1869. 
ABSTRACT. 
The author prefaced his essay by considering the efforts made now-a-days 
m the Natural History direction, and doubted whether very many persons 
profited by them. He put the case of a person stumbling over an A mmonite, 
when out on an excursion with the Bristol Naturalists, and asked what 
would be the result to an intelligent and inquiring person. Why, he would 
seek to ascertain its nature. And the object of the writer was to show the 
inquirer what class of animals built up such shells, and to learn from their 
living representatives, even now tenanting our seas so abundantly, what 
they are through their ways and habits. 
Without going much into questions of anatomy and physiology, and 
technicalities, the Cuttle Fishes of our British Seas were the first to notice. 
The three found in our waters are, 1. — the Octopus, or Poulpe (also the 
rarest) ; 2.— The Loligo, or Calamary (the Pen and Ink Fish) ; 3. — The 
Sepia, or Squid (containing the Cuttle Fish Bone of the Apothecary's Shop). 
In classification, they are Molluscs of the highest organization, and in fact 
standing at the head of all invertebrate animals. The points of these 
animals which exhibit contrivance, and show such proofs of creative 
wisdom, seemed to be especially interesting Their mode of propulsion through 
the water has been imitated in Buthven's patent propeller, in the Enterprise 
and the Nautilus, sea going ships, with one of which our late fellow citizen, 
Captain Claxton, was concerned so intimately ; and the principle is identical 
with that in the flight of a rocket, or the kick of a rifle. Their sucker 
dotted arms suggested to Professor Simpson, an improvement in the 
obstetrical forceps of surgeons. Then, their wondrous ink-bags, and the 
pigment Sepia— its properties and natures — its preparation and price, were 
noted, and the observations of Plutarch, Pliny, and other ancient writers 
not only as to the Sepia, its colour and action, applied morally and to human 
character ; but what was curious enough, their testimony to the gastronomic 
excellences of these Molluscs, said to resemble tripe in flavour. Of their 
edible qualities several illustrations were adduced, and a strong case made 
out, that they (ink bags inclusive) formed a chief constituent in the 
Blackbroth of the Spartans. Then, in spite of the gross exaggeration of old 
