THE KRAKEN. 
9 
rendering of the water turbid and thick by the emission of 
a substance which the narrator supposed to be faecal 
matter, is exactly that which occurs when a cuttle dis- 
charges the contents of the remarkable organ known as 
its ink-bag ; and the strong and peculiar scent mentioned 
as appertaining to it, is actually characteristic of its inky 
secretion. The musky odour referred to, is more percep- 
tible in some species than in others. In one of the Octo- 
pods (Eledone inoschatus)^ it is so strong, that the specific 
name of the animal is derived from it. 
The ancient Greeks and Romans, who were well ac- 
quainted with the various kinds of cuttles and regarded 
them all as excellent food, and even as delicacies of the 
table, applied the word " polypus " especially to the 
octopus. But Pontoppidan evidently uses it as descriptive 
of all the cephalopods. It must not be forgotten, however, 
that when he wrote, science was only slowly recovering 
from neglect of many centuries' duration. In the en- 
lightened times of Greece and Rome, natural history 
flourished, and as in our day, attracted and occupied the 
attention of the man of science, and afforded recreation to 
the man of business and the politician. Aristotle wrote 
322 years before the birth of Christ, and his works are 
monuments of practical wisdom. When we consider the 
period during which he lived, and the isolated nature of his 
labours, and compare them with the information which he 
possessed, we are astonished at his sagacity and the great 
scope and general accuracy of his knowledge. Pliny, 240 
years later, lived in times more favourable for the cultiva- 
tion of science ; but with all his advantages made little 
improvement on the work of the great master. And then, 
later still, the sun of learning set ; and there came over 
Europe the long night of the dark ages which succeeded 
