PAPER NAUTILUS. 
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celebrated for his skill in navigation, and is even 
supposed to have suggested the first idea of that art 
amongst the ancients. 
In the Mediterranean Sea, and in the Indian 
Ocean, these shell -fish are not uncommon. In calm 
weather they may be observed floating on the sur- 
face in a very beautiful manner, some spreading their 
little sails, while others are rowing with their feet. 
To accomplish this singular purpose the nautilus is 
supplied with eight arms, two of which are furnished 
at their extremity with an oval membrane that 
serves for a sail, while the other six, hanging over 
the sides of the boat, are employed as oars, and oc- 
casionally serve to steer by. In order to rise from 
the bottom of the ocean for the purpose of sailing 
on the surface, the nautilus discharges a quantity of 
water from its shell, by which it becomes lighter 
than the surrounding medium, and of course rises to 
the top. Numbers of these curious animals may be 
seen sailing about and diverting themselves on the 
smooth surface of the sea ; but if any danger ap- 
proaches, or the winds begin to rise, they imme- 
diately lower their sails, and, shrinking into the body 
of the shell, sink at once to the bottom. Their ex- 
treme timidity makes it very difficult to take them 
alive ; for, whenever any person approaches, they 
immediately leave the surface of the water ; and al- 
though seamen have often got very near them, yet 
when they arrived within a certain distance and 
stretched out their hands to secure the fish, they 
2 p 2 
