New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-31
An Octonus and his Prey.
Mr.. Henry Lee. F. L. s.. writes in Ian

Mr.. Henry Lee. F. L. s.. writes in Land
and Wcter:
Desiring 20 have better view than bad
previously been able to obtain OF what 1Ol-
lows the seizure Of crab by an octopus, i
recently fastened one to string, BY WHICH
an attendant was to lower it in the water
close to. the glass. while l stood watching
in front. Tue crab had hardly descended
to the depth of two feet before an octopus
for which it was not intended, anc when !
had not observed tso exactly had he as
sumed the hue of the surface TO which he
clurg'. shot GU. like rocket from one side
Of the tank. opened his meInpranous uIn-
brella, shut up the suspended crab within
il. and darteI back again 70 the ledge OF
rock on which he hsG been lying in ambush.
There he held on. with :he crab firmly
pressed between his BODY and the stone
work. As this was not what wished, di-
rected Cosham. thy assistant, to gently try 70
pull the bait away from him. Not bit Of
1t. As soon as he felt the strain he took
firm grasp OF the rock with all the suckers
Of seven OF his arms, and. stretching the
eighth aioit. coiled j. round the tautened
line. the suckers actually closing on rte
line also. as ca:erpillar'e foot grips d thin
twig OF cobbler's leathern pad folds round
his thread when lie Is Aaking a wax end.
Noticing several jerks on the string.
thought at FIRST they were given By the man
overhead. and told him not to use too much
force, but he called out. ''it's not me, sir.
IFS the octopus: can's move him, and
he's pulling go bard that. i ] don't
let 20, he'll bseak she line" "Hold
on. then. and ie: him break is,"
I replied. Tug suy, dragged the tough,
strong arm OF the octopus. and a. third
tug the line broke. and the crab was all his
own The swins was that used for pending
the seine net. and WAS therefore not partlcu-
larly weak. Although this experiment fur.
nished a fresh illustration OF the holding
power Of an octopus, i: had no: taugh: NE
exactly tha. which wanted 10 know. /
wished TO be underneath that umbrella
with the crab. or (which was decidedly
preferable; to be able 20 see what happened
beneath it without getting wet My plan.
therefore. vas to pfocare the seizrre Of .he
crab asains. the front glass, instsad OF
against the rock. work. Our next sndeavor
was successful. A second crab was so fast
ened that the string could be withdrawn if
desired, and was lowered near to the great
male octopus, who generally dwells in nook
in the west front corner of the tank. He was
sleepy, and not very hungry, and required
good deal of tempting to rouse him 20
activity; but the sight Of his favOr;ts food
overcame his laziness, and. after some de-
monstrative painting, putting and erection
OF his tuDercles. he lungeu Out du AIln 10
seize the precious morsel. II was with
drawn from his reach: and so. at last. hs
turned out Of bed. rushed at it and got il
under him against the plate-glass, just as
desired. In second the crab was COM
pletely pinioned: Not movement. not a
struggle was visible or possible-each leg.
each claw was grasped all over by suckers,
epfolded in them, stretched out TO its full
extent by them. The back Of the carapace
was covered al! over with the tenacious
vacuum discs, brought together by :he
adaptable contraction Of she limb. and
ranged in close order, shoulder 20 shoulder.
touching each other; while between others.
which dragged the abdominal plates toward
the mouth of the black tip of she hard
horny beak was seen for single instant
protruding from the circular Crifce in the
centre OF the radiation of the arms, and
the next had crunched through Che shell,
and was buried deep in the flesh of the
victim. The action Of an Nctupus. when
seizing its prey tor its necessary food. is
very Ike that Of a cat bouncing mouse.
and holding j. down beneath its paws.
The movement j. as euGden, the scutfle az
hrie! ard the escape Of che prisoner even
less profitable. The fate Of the crab is not
really more terrible than .hs. oi :he
mouse or Of a MiDnow swallowed hy q
perch, but there il = repulsiyeness abou.
the form, color, and attitudes Of the octopus
which invests il with kioa 81 .rasle
horror