. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 74 MOLLUSC A. upon the bottom among the rocks. The body (Fig. 78) is a simple sac, from which radiate eight sucker-lined arms. They are very powerful, and when enraged waves of color pass over the skin in rapid succession. When attacked they eject a cloud of ink, and under its cover crawl away, passing through incredibly small holes, and so mimicking the colors of the bottom that an experi- enced eye is necessary to detect them. They feed upon crabs and other animals, and are mainly bottom animals, though some species have web-like membranes between their eight
. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 74 MOLLUSC A. upon the bottom among the rocks. The body (Fig. 78) is a simple sac, from which radiate eight sucker-lined arms. They are very powerful, and when enraged waves of color pass over the skin in rapid succession. When attacked they eject a cloud of ink, and under its cover crawl away, passing through incredibly small holes, and so mimicking the colors of the bottom that an experi- enced eye is necessary to detect them. They feed upon crabs and other animals, and are mainly bottom animals, though some species have web-like membranes between their eight arms enabling them to swim. Each egg of the octopus is inclosed in a thin, transparent, oval case, and attached by a stalk with several hundred others to the bottom ; sixty species are known. Value.—The fisheries are important to the Chinese. Argonaut (ArgonautidcB).—The Cephalopods of this family are often incorrectly figured with sails raised in the air. The shell is symmetrical and of great delicacy and beauty. The animal rests in it, the two upper or dorsal pairs of arms being developed at their tips into membranes that are thrown back over the shell (Fig. 79), holding the. Fig. 79.—Argonaut swimming, showing the broad tentacles holding the ani- mal in, instead of being used as sails, as sometimes incorrectly pictured. Argonaut in. The broad tentacles also contain the shell- secreting glands. The shell is likewise the nursery, the eggs being attached within it and carried about. The male secretes no shell, and is extremely small. They are deep-water animals, and crawl about upon the bottom. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Holder, Charles Frederick, 1851-1915; Holder, Joseph Bassett, 1824-1888, joint author. New York : D. Appleton and company
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
