[ 5 8 9 ] 
pie juice. This bone, or horny plate, is covered by 
a loofe membrane, which is by no means attached 
to it, but capable of being filled and inflated with 
water or wind. 
The whole is covered with two membranes, which 
are continuations of the flefh of the fifh’s body : the 
membranes are loofe, and larger than are neceflary 
to the bone: they are wrinkled or rumpled over one 
another, to cover the whole, and to defend the bone 
and vijcera from all kinds of preflure ; but they are 
ready to ftretch one from the other, a >d leave the 
parts defined for the purple juice uncovered. They 
begin a little under the neck, and extend, in the fe- 
male animal, to the tail, which is flat ; and m the 
male they do not go fo low, but end at fome dif ance 
from the tail. 
The females are oviparous ; for eggs are found in 
the grand cavity, at the fide of the pancreatic body. 
1 have already Arid, that when the animal is touched, 
he makes himklf round, and throws o t his purple 
juice, as the cuttlc-filh does his ink. T his juice is 
of a beautiful deep colour : it tinges lim n, and the 
tindure is difficult to get out. It remains at pixfent 
to try if we can colled a fufficient quantity of this 
juice, and to find a means of preferving the tindure; 
which would then be certainly of great value : to 
which purpofe I may apply myfelf. 
When the filh is boiled, or put into fpirits, it 
fhrinks up, and lofes two thirds of its fize ; bccaufe 
all the water, which is in the interfaces of the fibres, 
is diffipated, and the dried fibres contrad : which 
clearly appears from difleding them. 
Dated at Guadalnupe, 
2© Mar. 3757. 
PeylToRt 1. 
LXXVIIL 
