Evening star., 1900-10-06
THE LOLIGO.
A Fish That Squirts Ink in the Face
of His Enemy.

of His Enemy.
From the Contemporary Review.
The largest loligo l have seen measured
| three feet eight inches without attempting
to stretch its tentacles. Like the fishes.
they seem to sleep with one eye closed at
time, / have them resting on the
sea bottom for this purpose; and when the
bait fell near the sleeping side 1t was un-
observed. but when dropped on the other II
was gripped at once.
Their enemies all the carnivorous
| fishes, which they often evade either by
evolution, fight or mimicry, for all of which
devices they have some special adaptations.
In the first instance, they have two tough,
flexible fins wings high the back,
which enable them to swim forward or
backward without turning. which is an ac-
commodation of great utility in either at
tack retreat. Then, their eyes
situated as almost to command a circle.
This also in fight is invaluable, for they
can see all their enemies and know their
power, and can advance or retire as the
occasion may require. Then besides their
ink bag, they have a muscular siphon en-
abling them to shoot their enemies in the
air some ten feet and In the sea some three
or four feet away.
Not long ago friend Of mine saw a skiY-
mish between loligo and its enemy In
which the cutie came off the victor. He
was nShlng in the clear water off Mevagis-
sey bay, and, wishing to catch a John
Doree. he tied the end of his line to the tail
of a live young sea Dream and threw it into
the sea. Now, Doree is fond of living
food and likes to swallow it headforemost.
This suits the fisherman, as when devoured
in this form the spines of the Dream act as
hooks to the fiShermans line and are sure
to bring all on board.
The Dream had not got far down in the
sea before cutie it and quickly fas-
tened on TO the back Of its neck, and before
any steps were taken to scare it away a
W Sa.an TO hn
There was no doubt or hesitation about its
purpose. for 1t was seen that 1t desired to
swallow the lot, as ii was quietly going for
ward all the time, but taking a side view as
the opportunity best offered. When about
five feet from its quarry there was a vio-
lent rush on it, with jaws wide open, but
there was just as quick action the
other side, for the contents Of the ink bag
were as quickly shot into the open mouth
In an instant, with the impetus of the rush
the Doree was in a cloud of thick darkness
and the cutie skunk out of sight.
The Doree appeared out of the muddle in
a dreadful state; its eyes rolled as if in ter
ror and its beautiful olive skin had turned
deadly pale. while its coughing and FUN
ing were something to be remembered, black
matter being again and again eXpectorated
from gills and mouth. 1t was really
thought that the creature was about to die.
and the gaff was got ready to take 1t
board, for it had foated up within four feet
of the boat, but, noting her outline, it gen.
tly sank into the depths below.
When gaffing the cutie for bait the face
Of the fisherman-unless he has something
white about him-is always the loligo's tar
get for shooting out of the water.
I remember having a noted London doo-
tor out at for little amateur fishing;
He would like to see loligo cutie caught,
he said. l warned him of what was likely
to happen when gaffing was on, but he did
not care. Surely" he said, "I can dodge
such guesswork as this must be for so short
a time" 1 felt dubious as to the result,
seeing his white shirt was a prominent OBJ
ject through his having such an open vest.
Finally cutie took the bait, and as 1
drew it toward the doctor lost all
thought of himself and his adornments' in
his admiration of the movements and the
beautiful eyes of the creature, when in an
instant, as gated it, the whole ink charge
struck him In the throat.