66 
NATURE OF THE 
calamaries, or “ flying squid,” as they are termed by 
whalers, have the power of propelling themselves through 
the atmosphere. u There is good reason for believing,” 
says Mr. Owen, “that some of the small, slender-bodied 
subulate species of this genus are enabled to strike the 
water with such force as to raise themselves above the 
surface, and dart, like the flying fish, for a short distance 
through the air.” I have myself seen, very frequently, 
while in the north and south Pacific, tens of thousands of 
these animals dart simultaneously out of the water when 
pursued by albacore, or dolphins, and propel themselves 
headfirst , in a horizontal direction, for eighty or a hun- 
dred yards, assisting their progression, probably, by a 
rotatory or screwing motion of their arms or tentacles, 
and which they have the power of thus moving with sin- 
gular velocity. This species also, as well as the large 
onychoteuthis, I am led to believe, often serves the 
sperm whale for food. I have seen, on several occa- 
sions, very large limbs of the latter species of squid 
floating on the surface of the ocean, appearing as if bitten 
off by some animal, most probably by the sperm whale, 
for when these remains have been seen, I have always 
looked most anxiously for those animals, and have never 
been disappointed in seeing them within a few hours 
afterwards. 
One day, being on the coast of Peru, off Paita-Head 
as it is called, which lies in about the latitude of five 
degrees south, I was startled at seeing a remarkable 
looking animal raising itself quickly to the surface of 
the sea by means of a number of very long flexible 
