CEPHALOPODS. 
447 
The following fact is abbreviated from the “ Natural History and 
■fishery of the Sperm Whale.” Mr. Beale had been searching for 
shells among the rocks in Bonin Island, and was much astonished to 
see at his feet a most extraordinary-looking animal, crawling hack 
Wards the surf which it had just left. It was creeping on its eight 
fgs, which, from their soft and flexible nature, bent considerably 
111 'der the weight of its body, so that it was just lifted by an effort 
above the rocks. It appeared much alarmed, and made every attempt 
escape. Mr. Beale endeavoured to stop it by putting his foot on 
0ll e of its tentacles, but it liberated itself several times in spite of all 
^is efforts. He then laid hold of one of the tentacles with his hand, 
a,t d held it firmly, and the limb appeared as if it would be tom 
asunder in the struggle. To terminate the contest, he gave it a 
Powerful jerk; it resisted the effort successfully, but the moment 
after the enraged animal lifted a head with large projecting eyes, and, 
losing its hold of the rocks, suddenly sprang upon Mr. Beale’s arm, 
"duck had been previously bared to the shoulder, and clung to it with 
ds suckers, while it endeavoured to get the beak, which he could now 
Se e, between the tentacles, in a position to bite him. Mr. Beale 
describes its cold slimy grasp as extremely sickening, and he loudly 
(:f dled to the captain, who was also searching for shells, to come to his 
distance. They hastened to the boat, and he was released by killing 
dis tormentor with a boat-knife, when the aims were disengaged bit 
% bit. Mr. Beale states that this Cephalopod must have measured 
a °ross its expanded arms about four feet, while its body was not bigger 
^an a large hand clenched. It was the species called the rock-squid 
% whalers. 
These formidable and curious Cephalopods, the M aXdicui of Aris- 
t°tle, Mollia of Pliny, and Cephalophora of De Blainville, have the 
Mantle, according to Cuvier, united beneath the body, thus forming 
a Muscular sac which envelopes the whole viscera. The body is soft 
and fleshy, varying much in form, being sub-spherical, sub-elliptical, 
f Q d cylindrical, the sides of the mantle in many species extending 
1J do flesby fins. The head protrudes from the muscular sac, and is 
^istinct from the body ; it is gifted with all the usual senses, the eyes 
111 particular, which are either pedunculate or sessile, being large and 
"'ell developed. The mouth is anterior and terminal, armed with a 
Pair of horny or calcareous mandibles, which bear a strong resemblance 
