THE FLYING SQUIDS. 
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name, being either a spear-shaped body of a horny substance, such as is popularly known by 
the name of sea-pen, or a curious aggregation of chalky particles, familiar under the title of 
“ cuttle-bone.” This “bone” is not attached to the animal by any muscles, but lies loosely 
in a kind of sac in the mantle, and will drop out if the sac be opened. . 
Of the order Octopoda, the genus Stauroteuthis is a newly discovered one. But a single 
specimen is known, which was found in the waters about thirty miles east of Cape Sable, ISTova 
Scotia. 
The genus Alloposus is represented in New England waters by A. mollis ; a female 
specimen of which is said to weigh over twenty pounds, and to have a total length of thirty- 
two inches. 
These genera belong to the family which embraces the Argonauts, or Paper Sailors. The 
latter are familiar to us as tropical species. The United States Fish Commission have dredged 
about a dozen dead shells a hundred miles off the New England coast. 
Octopus vulgaris , of the West Indies, reaches a length of nine feet, and weight of sixty 
pounds. 
Octopus punctatus , of the Pacific coast, reaches a length of radial spread of twenty-eight 
feet. 
There is no evidence of an Octopus having attacked any human being. In habit it is mild 
and retiring, exhibiting no disposition to lay hold upon anything but its legitimate food, 
which it finds in abundance on the sea bottom. About fifty species are enumerated, as 
known throughout the world. The most familiar Octopus to the general reader has been the 
0. vulgaris of the Mediterranean Sea, where it is known as an important edible. During Lent 
the meat is eaten, and regarded by special Papal indulgence as fish. 
Octopus bairdi is an interesting species discovered by the Fish Commission operations off 
our New England coast. Prof. Verrill, the chief naturalist of the Commission, thus describes 
its habits, having kept one in confinement : When at rest it remains at the bottom of the 
vessel, adhering firmly by some of the basal suckers of its arms. While the outer portion of 
its arms were curled back in different positions, the body was held in nearly a horizontal 
position, and the eyes were usually half closed and had a sleepy look. When disturbed or in 
any way excited, the eyes opened more widely, especially at night. It rarely crept about by 
means of its arms, but would swim briskly. The siphon is used to direct the movements, 
being bent under the body when it moves forward. 
One species of Eledone — a genus in which the arms bear a single row of suckers — is found 
in our waters, but only two specimens have thus far been discovered. In allusion to its warty 
appearance, Prof. Verrill calls it E. verrucosa . There are three species in European waters. 
On account of the term Decapoda — ten-footed — being in use also in the class of Crustacea, 
Decacera has been substituted for the next division. The well-known fossil Bellemnites 
belong to this order. The little Spirula, nautilus-like shell that is abundantly thrown upon 
the beaches of the Southern States, is another form. These shells have at times been found 
on Nantucket shores. The animal is not found with the shell. Only three perfect and a few 
mutilated specimens have ever been found. The United States Coast Survey people dredged 
one off one of the West India islands in 1878. It came from a depth of nine hundred and fifty 
fathoms. 
The family of the Teuthidse, popularly known as Calamaries, or Squids, are distinguished 
by their elongated bodies, their short and broad fins, and the shell or pen which is found in 
their interior. All the Squids are very active, and some species, called Flying Squids by 
sailors, and Ommastrephes by systematic naturalists, are able to dash out of the sea and dart 
to considerable distances. Mr. Beale mentions that he has seen tens of thousands of these 
animals dart simultaneously out of the water when pursued by dolphins or albacores, and 
propel themselves through the air for a distance of eighty or a hundred yards. While thus 
engaged, they have a habit of moving their long tentacles with a rapid, spiral motion, which 
may possibly help them in their flight, as it undoubtedly does in their propulsion through the 
