great numbers of people came to see them. This was attended with considerable inconvenience to the person through whose grounds they were obliged to pass, and he resolved to destroy the objects of their curiosity. That this might be done effectually, he caused all the holes, out of which the animals appeared, to be carefully drilled with an iron instrument. He could not, however, even by this means, destroy them; for in the course of a few weeks they again appeared in the very same places, and, in a short time, became as numerous as before.

OF THE SEPIA, OR CUTTLE-FISH TRIBE.

The structure of these animals is very remarkable. Their body is cylindrical, and, in some of this species, entirely covered with a fleshy sheath; in others, the sheath reaches only to the middle of the body. They have eight tentacula or arms, and in general two feelers, as they are called, which are much longer than the arms. Both the feelers and arms are furnished with strong circular cups or suckers. The mouth of these animals is hard, strong, and horny, resembling, both in texture and substance, the beak of a parrot.

In the back, under the skin, there is a kind of bone, composed of thin parallel plates, one above another, and separated by little columns, arranged in quincunx order. This bone is oval, thick toward the middle, and thin at the edge. It is extremely light, generally elastic, and, in the living animal, is transparent, like glass: the surface, in some species, is marked with longitudinal furrows.

*

THE OFFICINAL AND EIGHT-ARMED CUTTLE-FISH.

By means of the numerous circular cups or suckers

* DESCRIPTION. The body is ovate, and surrounded by a margin, which is interrupted at the posterior part. There are

with which the arms of both these species are furnished, they seize their prey, and firmly attach themselves to rocks or other hard substances. In order to do this, they apply the surface of the suckers, extended and plain, to the surface of the body to which they are about to adhere: then, drawing them up in the centre, by the muscles contrived for that purpose, a vacuum is formed, and they are fixed by the pressure of the external air. Their adhesive power is so great, that it is generally more easy to tear off the arms, than separate them from the substance to which they are fixed. If the arms happen to be broken off, they are soon afterwards re-produced.

The beak of these animals is so strong and powerful, that they are enabled, by means of it, to break in pieces the shells of limpets, and of other marine testaceous animals, on which they feed.

In the belly not only of these, but of all other species of Cuttle-fish, there is a vessel that contains a quantity of dark or inky fluid, which the animal emits, on contraction, when alarmed. This not only tinges the water so as to conceal its retreat, but is at the same time so bitter, as immediately to drive off its enemies.

Th' endangered Cuttle thus evades his fears,
And native hoards of fluid safely bears.
A pitchy ink peculiar glands supply,
Whose shades the sharpest beam of light defy.
Pursued he bids the sable fountain flow,
And, wrapt in clouds, eludes th' impending foe.
The fish retreats unseen, while self-born night,
With pious shade, befriends her parent's flight.

Swammerdam was of opinion, that Indian ink was

eight short and pointed arms, and two tentacula, which are four times as long as the arms. These are rounded, and the tips are very broad, and furnished with numerous suckers, SYNONYMS. Sepia officinalis. Linn.-Sèche Commune. Bosc.-La Seiche Commune. Cuvier.

this black fluid in an inspissated state, with the addition of perfumes. If Indian ink be, in any considerable quantity, dissolved in water, it acquires, in a few days, a very high degree of putridity, clearly indicating its being formed of some animal substance; and no other seems so well calculated to compose it as this.

The male always accompanies the female, and, when she is attacked, will brave every danger, and will attempt her rescue, even at the hazard of his own life. As soon as she observes her partner to be wounded, she immediately escapes, her timidity not suffering her to afford him any assistance. When these animals are dragged out of the water, they make a noise somewhat like the grunting of a hog.

The young-ones are produced from eggs deposited in parcels on marine plants: those of the officinal species, exactly resembling a bunch of grapes. The eggs are at first white, but, after their impregnation, they become black: they are round, with a little point at the end, and in each of them is contained a Cuttle-fish, surrounded by a gelatinous fluid.

The Officinal Cuttle-fish has in its body a bone, which, when dried and pulverized, is employed by silversmiths for moulds, in which they cast their small work, such as spoons, rings, &c. It is also converted into that useful article of stationery, called pounce. This bone, on account of its lightness, is sometimes called sea-foam, or sea-biscuit.

This species was held in great esteem by the ancients as food, and it is even yet used as such by the Italians, and the inhabitants of other countries on the shores of the Mediterranean.

The Eight-armed Cuttle-fish, in hot climates, some

DESCRIPTION. The body is short, and rounded at the posterior part. There are eight arms, which taper to a point, and are joined at the base by a membrane or web, and covered

times become of such size, as to measure twelve feet across its centre, and to have each of its arms between forty and fifty feet long. When the Indians go out in their canoes, in places frequented by these animals, they are always in dread of their flinging their arms over and sinking them; on which account they are careful to take with them an axe, to cut them off.

OF THE ASTERIAS, OR STAR-FISH TRIBE.

These are inhabitants of the sea, and are usually found on the sand, or among the rocks on the seashore, considerably below high-water mark. Their covering is a coriaceous crust, which defends them from the attacks of the smaller animals; and they have five or more rays proceeding from a centre, in which their mouth is situated. Every ray is furnished with a prodigious number of tentacula, or short, soft, and fleshy tubes, which appear to be of use not only in taking prey, and in aiding the motion of the animal, but also in enabling it to adhere to rocks and other substances, by which it withstands the force of the waves. In a single animal the tentacula have been found several hundred in number; and, when the Starfish are thrown on their backs, these are frequently pushed out and withdrawn, in the same manner as snails do their horns. The progressive motion of the Star-fish, which is performed by the undulation of their rays, is very slow. They possess considerable powers of re-production; for, if a ray happen to be broken off, a new one, in the course of a short time, will ара pear. The mouth is armed with bony teeth, that are used in seizing and breaking the shells on which the animals feed; and from the mouth a canal extends to

on one side with two rows of alternate suckers. There are no pedunculated tentacula, as in the last species.

SYNONYMS. Sepia Octopus. Linn.-Sèche Octopode. Bosco. -Le Poulpe Commune. Cuvier.

each of the rays, runs through the whole length, and becomes gradually narrower as it approaches the extremity.

If Star-fish be drowned in brandy or spirit of wine, and the rays be kept flat and expanded, it is easy afterwards to extract, by a pair of forceps, the stomach and intestines through the mouth. This information may be of use to persons who wish to preserve specimens of these animals.

THE COMMON OR FIVE-RAYED STAR-FISH*.

In a large animal of this species, which I kept by me for some time alive, there were more than 4000 tentacula on the under sides of the rays. These the creature frequently retracted, and again pushed out, as a snail does its horns; and by means of them, it was enabled firmly to adhere to the dish of salt-water in which it was kept. Whenever I touched the tentacula with my finger, all those of that ray or limb were gradually withdrawn, but those of the other rays were not in the least affected by it.

It is stated, that these animals, which are extremely common in some seas, feed on oysters, and are consequently very destructive to them. This, however, if it relate to full-grown oysters, must be incorrect, as, when alive, the Star-fish are so soft and tender, that an oyster, in closing upon them, would either cut off their limb, or, at least, would injure it to such a degree, that when it next opened its shell, the animal would be glad to make its escape. Besides, the mouth of the Star-fish being in the centre of the under part of its body, I

DESCRIPTION. The rays are five in number, and each of them is angular. At the angles there are prickly protube rances. When alive these animals are usually of a brownish white colour.

SYNONYMS. Asterias glacialis. Linn. Asterie glaciale.

Bosc.