The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-06-16


1t will suffice to explain that they work in "a
manner similar to that simple piece of leath>
er with string attached of school boys call
ed n . sucker with which (ia my school
days) we used to lift bricks and other fat
heavy objects.
| The body, which is very SMALL in propor-
ton to the spread Of arms is simply leath
/ cry bag, containing the intestnes and organ.
of life. The breathing apparatus is, accord
| ing to Montfort (who dissected a great many
/ so constructed that the animal can exist for
I q considerable time on land, and may be
/ called semi>amphibious. Its arms, which
also its organs OF progression, but poorly
sustain It's weight, and it is not probable that
/ I ever, except by accident, comes on
/ ishore; though it has its favorite home
among the rocks on the coast, to one ofwhich
it clIngs with two arms, while the rest are
/ thrown on. to catch passing fish. 1t is some
times found in the surf, whittier it has prDba>
bly, been led IN pursuit of its prey. AID
several observers (Beale in particuIar) mem
! ton having seen 1t at sea on the surface,
where it progressed by rotary corl-crew
motion Of the arms.
| HABITS OF THE FISH.
| .'Monfort who spent many years in obsery
ing the habits Of the cutie fish, on two
occasions met them on shore. Oace huge
mastitr " hich accompanied him on his ex-
plorarjoas discovered the animal, and drew
his masters attention by his excited barking.
when | came to the rocks, he relates, -
found n cuttle fish, whose arms were three
feet long He was defending himseIfagairst
the violent attacks OF the dog, animal of
immense size and strength and undaunteI
courage. which had already once saved my
& l.. H., = i
/ around The clrrla, vainly attempting to seize
the arms. which followed him with singular
dexteritv. and lasheI him over the back ike
whips | loOkel on a minute in great aston>
ish neut at the deylerlty Of the cutie. which
seemed fuii OF rage, and showed NJ desire to
retreat. though the water was just behind It
When i saw me it seemed for the first time
somewhat ii.timidateI. There WAS 4 change
in rs tactics. The arms strack out less Ctt-n
and it esdeavered to drag itself to the shore.
Seeing this my brave dog seemed encouraged
Watching chance, he leaPed within the
arms and fastened his teeth il one, quite
near the body.
INSTANTLY four arms were drawn up and
tuineI ri1idiy about the dog, who struggled
vaiuv to free himself, and for once losing his
courage, uttered piteoUs ho"ls and cries for
help. Meantime the cutie, whose huge pros
truIimg eyes seemed actually to fash fire.
anI ,Sb5so ho1r had turnei uoanv colors
from dark volIet t. bright scarlet, was draw,
/ inc, itself with considerable speed toward the
wate~. dragging with Httie effort the heavy
I body cf my dog. The rough rocky rr5aai
helped him . drag the weight along W CIV
ing MS arms secure holds.
Already the monster hal reached the
water side. when ! could ~ longer htar tic
sight, and rushed 10 the n. p oi my laith'G'
dog. [ se.zaI two OF The arms OF the cutie
/ fish, and JrlC.a- M ieet AE.n'y agIiRSt a
solid rock. pulled win az my strength.
sIcceeded IN tearing loose i-'''Se arm ne
animal struggle !, uttered cfi~s oi rage ""4eA
r=scmb.ed tAe -ro"l oI a-"".eA noSi ana
/ finally attacked me 100, throwing '"o o' H.
arms about my person. b4t M p'"'e uo5
had not been IDLE. Naiher,n5 courage from
my advance. lie had succeeded Ia quite tear
ing of with lis stron2 te Ia two OF the arms
the cutie; AMI w-.h ano her struggle b. was
free. Then, with !ury which l never saw
equsled, he alta :hed the disabled m1n'ier,
which " together soon oyerpo"srtl.
II Determined, say I1ntiort, IN conc.u-
sion, never again 10 a-tacs, an anlma. Of
7 his kind unarmed, or to venture u close
quarters WIKI Il.
.'Ths vast strength and determination OF
. the cItJle fish viii appear when We kaoT that
though this iHJi Ji'laUai spcesl nearly nine
. feet, his body was nOt larger than pump
kin.
A. ,DvEvrr-E-
,.,, H.
i, '.a,--., :. r.i,.a. ~,
a. - ,7S,,I i-., ,,;,b q c-,-I.
/ : -. L-r-;f,Io ,b.t i, .I,y,v. oiI..,l.
, -. ;.,l,-,ar, 70, mt 10 bat.ar
I,>,,.f -. l,,T, ,-,~I,
uii,;Ja NOV, ,I.o RI, Txra,Gs searching
r-r.Ir. 80, 49,. -, ,,,I,,b I'D 49,, Ii,
+ ..tt:,,,,'rsa - "a. much ,.t,n.
;,,.I - - ~ INV, t.'f most sytra,rdin.
49,. i,,,,,, .,7,r,,i I,n,, toward the .prf
! r'5;,I b',J o,oIr inst I.rt il had never seen
o,-, IL II ~, i.r snch circumstances bef,r.
= ii,ar.-,a a,,-a,rad ,b.. ,n,rs reo,arI,s i,,,.
+ Us crecn'n,, on II, q rbt les. which.
fr,,, tbai. soft and Il .xibra nature. bent con.
/ .iler, ,b,v under the ,yeirht OF its BODY. s.
that il ,gas lifted bv the efforts Of his ten
,qc4I.t.. oI,jya srn5I di,tauc. from the rocks
h app,ars much a2armeI =; seeing me. aal
made every effort to escape, while | vas not
mpob in the huuor to eadeayor to capture
:, uoIv = customer whose arJearance excited
n leeilnr of DISGUST not un,n.xed with fear
/ however. enie.rorinG 10 prevent It's
! escape bT pressing on one Of It's legs with
nv foot but although | made use OF coE-
siderable force for that p4rpose. lis strength
was 50 great that it several times duickIy
liberated its me .ajer in spite OF all the efforts
/ could employ this way on the wet, slippery
rocks now IaIl hold OF one the tentacles
with nv hand and held il firmly. so that the
limb appeared rs if it would be torn asunder
by our united strength | soon gave it a
powerful Jerk. wishin. to disengage it from
the recks to which II clung 50 torcibEy by its
suckers. This | eiIectuaIy resisted, but the
,1,o,a,t after the anDareniIg enr,psd animal
Iftad i. had. it< Iar,c ewes projecting from
=,