"It swims at freedom in
the bosom of the sea, moving by sudden and irregular jerks, the body
being nearly in a perpendicular position, and the head directed
downwards and backwards. Some species have a fleshy, muscular fin
on each side, by aid of which they accomplish these apparently
inconvenient motions; but, at least, an equal number of them are
finless, and yet can swim with perhaps little less agility. Lamarck,
indeed, denies this, and says that these can only trail themselves
along the bottom by means of the suckers. This is probably their
usual mode of proceeding; that it is not their only one, we have the
positive affirmation of other observers."[8] Serviceable as these arms
undoubtedly are to the Cuttle-fish, Blumenbach thinks it questionable
whether they can be considered as organs of touch, in the more limited
sense to which he has confined that term.[9]
THE CUTTLE-FISH.
[Illustration: The Cuttle-fish.]
The jaws of the Cuttle-fish, it should be observed, are fixed in the
body because there is no head to which they can be articulated.
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