s; and when thus fixed, it required great force to
remove them. At other times they darted, tail first, with the rapidity
of an arrow, from one side of the pool to the other, at the same
instant discoloring the water with a dark chestnut-brown ink. These
animals also escape detection by a very extraordinary, chameleon-like
power of changing their color. They appear to vary their tints
according to the nature of the ground over which they pass: when in
deep water, their general shade was brownish-purple, but when placed
on the land, or in shallow water, this dark tint changed into one of
a yellowish green. The color, examined more carefully, was a French
gray, with numerous minute spots of bright yellow: the former of these
varied in intensity; the latter entirely disappeared and appeared
again by turns. These changes were effected in such a manner, that
clouds, varying in tint between a hyacinth red and a chestnut brown,
were continually passing over the body. Any part, being subjected to a
slight shock of galvanism, became almost black: a similar effect, but
in a less degree, was produced by scratching the skin with a needle.
These clouds, or blushes as they may be called, are said to be
produced by the alternate contraction and expansion of minute
vescicles containing variously colored fluids.

This cuttle-fish displayed its chameleon-like power both during the
act of swimming and whilst remaining stationary at the bottom. I was
much amused by the various arts to escape detection used by one
individual, which seemed fully aware that I was watching it. Remaining
for a time motionless, it would then stealthily advance an inch or
two, like a cat after a mouse; sometimes changing its color: it thus
proceeded, till having gained a deeper part, it darted away, leaving a
dusky train of ink to hide the hole into which it had crawled.

While looking for marine animals, with my head about two feet above
the rocky shore, I was more than once saluted by a jet of water,
accompanied by a slight grating noise. At first I could not think what
it was, but afterwards I found out that it was this cuttle-fish,
which, though concealed in a hole, thus often led me to its discovery.
That it possesses the power of ejecting water there is no doubt, and
it appeared to me that it could certainly take good aim by directing
the tube or siphon on the upper side of its body. From the difficulty
which these animals have in carrying their heads, the