SQUIDS, CUTTLE-FISH, AND THEIR ALLIES 155 
tacles of more than six feet in length, but 
their strength is prodigious, and their grasping 
power so great that it is impossible to make 
one release its hold of an object when once it 
has obtained a firm grasp, without severing 
its limbs. Indeed, it is the grasping and 
adhesive nature of the tentacles that renders 
the octopus such an objectionable and dangerous 
creature to meet, and those of us who have 
experienced the sensation of having water 
weeds or seaweed encircling our limbs when 
bathing can well imagine that it would be by 
no means pleasant to come across even a small 
octopus in similar circumstances. 
Mr. Frank T. Bullen gives an interesting 
account of his experience in reference to one 
of these creatures. When engaged in catching 
flounders and wading knee-deep in water, he 
suddenly felt a prickling sensation upon his 
leg. Looking down to discover the cause of 
his discomfort he found that a small octopus, 
with a body not much larger than his fist, had 
attached itself to his leg and was gradually 
creeping upwards. Endeavouring to rid him¬ 
self of the repulsive-looking object, he seized 
hold of the arms one by one, and forcibly 
pulled them from off his limb ; but this had 
little effect beyond tearing his flesh, for no 
sooner had he removed one tentacle than 
