162 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
Of the various species of squids, that known 
as Loligo vulgaris is found in British waters, 
more especially around the Cornish coast. 
It also inhabits the Mediterranean and the 
Atlantic. The animal has many foes, among 
which are to be numbered the albatross and 
other sea-birds, the sperm whale, and different 
kinds of dolphins. Fishermen, moreover, 
capture large quantities of them at night by 
torchlight—the creatures being attracted by 
the light—and use them as bait. The squid, 
however, is of a very prolific nature, a solitary 
female producing as many as forty thousand 
eggs during the months of May and June, so 
that the species does not appear to suffer any 
great diminution in consequence of its perse¬ 
cution. 
The spawn is very curious in appearance, 
being enclosed in semi-transparent and gela¬ 
tinous sheaths measuring about four inches 
in length, numbers of which are attached 
together and radiate from a common centre. 
These clusters, which float upon the surface 
of the ocean, are known as 46 sea-mops.” 
Other interesting members of the squid 
family are the flying-squids (Omnastrephes), 
so called on account of their habit of leaping 
out of the water. When thus engaged they 
not infrequently fall upon the decks of passing 
