Four feet, wings, and fins . ed fast by the pressure ofexternal air. Like crabs and lobsters, it is moreeasy to tear off their arms than to separate them inany other way; and like the crabs and lobsterstheir arms will grow again. Their mouths are sostrong that they can easily break in pieces the shellsof animals on which they feed. The ancients werefond of the cuttle-fish for food, and the Italians eatthe monsters yet. Sometimes, when the Indiansgo out in their canoes, a great devil-fish will comealong, and, spreading out its arms over the boatwill sink it and its crew. The Indian is usuallyca
Four feet, wings, and fins . ed fast by the pressure ofexternal air. Like crabs and lobsters, it is moreeasy to tear off their arms than to separate them inany other way; and like the crabs and lobsterstheir arms will grow again. Their mouths are sostrong that they can easily break in pieces the shellsof animals on which they feed. The ancients werefond of the cuttle-fish for food, and the Italians eatthe monsters yet. Sometimes, when the Indiansgo out in their canoes, a great devil-fish will comealong, and, spreading out its arms over the boatwill sink it and its crew. The Indian is usuallycareful to take an axe along, so that the arm orarms of the fish may be instantly cut off the momentthey appear upon the boat. The most curiousthing, though, is that it is said to have three hearts,and always carries an immense inkstand under itsthroat. When frightened, it throws its ink out allaround it, making the water so black it can easilyescape, unseen. This ink is also so bitter as todrive off all its water-enemies. 480. CATCHING LOBSTERS. Another foine tale, mum. Sure, and I loikesto hear such quare things. If Kenny was onlyhere, I should loike it much. Another strange Cephalopod, is the paper-nautilusor argonaut. The shell is as white and delicate-looking as paper, and though it becomes very brittleon being exposed to air, it is quite flexible in water,thus escaping destruction. It has eight arms, twoof which are membranous. The most singularthing about this little fish is its power for sailing onthe water. When the sea is calm, great numbersmay be seen sailing about like little boats. It issaid these creatures furnished the original idea ofnavigation. But how do they do it ? asked Frank. When they want a sail, all they have to do is todischarge enough water from their shells to makethem sufficiently light to float, then they raise thetwo membranous arms for sails, and throw out theother six over the sides of their shell for oars. Theyare not attached to their shells, an
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1879
