Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-05-28

Why does an octopus have eye
lids?
This is a question which science
has failed to answer, but one which
Howard S. Trainer, who is lectur-
ling on the I2-foot octopus caught
Sat Brazos Santiago Pass recently
and which Is on display now at
1.-The Cromack building, answers
logically.
Mature has provided an octopus
with "a most unuSal method OF pro-
Election. Ii squirts ink, binding its
Hoes. Is IL logical that this ink,
(which blinds the octopus Oppon-
tents, should blind il too? ] do not
think so. Hence the eyelids," <
Mr.. Trainer. "Deep-Sea div
ers say that an octopus Is con-
itinually blinking. / believe that
fwhen the ink IS squirted from its
ink-sack that the action OF the
eyelds keeps the octopus from be-
ing blinded"
The l2-foot octopus, thought the
largest ever seen In waters adjacent
TO Port Isabel or Padre Island. was
killed with a rifle by Leonard
.Trimble. son or +. III. Trimble, To-
cal architect. 10 was beached by
young Trimble. his father. and II.
G. Blanchard. Mr.. Blanchard
picked 1t III formaldehyde to
preserve Ii. and then sold 10 to n
company which will tour the United
-.-a.~~ ~ = rN~-fv~n- ufnA has had
a great deal Of experience with
deep-sea fish. is TO accompany the
party and will lecture.
Mr.. Trainer. who has lived IN the
Valley for some time, disproVes
many n myth connected with octopi-
Il have been asked If an octopus
Che size Of this one can kill a man,
and l answer emphatically that 1.
'.an.r Mr. Trainer explained today
@However, contrary to popular OPP
'nion. an octopus Is not antagonist
n. and will not attack a man or a
diver unless he comes too close
Many persons believe that the &C.
Bopus is extremely active, but he
Ent.r
Speaking OF how an octopus
propelled itself through the water
The lecturer explained that II car
RED itself along with its eight
arms. or legs. In addition. and this
Is not generally known. he added
III can suck water into its body. and
iorce 1t out q small canal-like
tnbe with amazing force. and this
carries ii along in spurts.
1T is common belief that an
octopus squeezes its victims 70
death. but this IS impossible. II has
80 such power" Mr.. Trainer point
cd out. Explaining that its arms
were homeless and without power
except IN It's innumerable suckers,
re proved this BY tying one OF the
arm in an intricate knot.
The suckers are in two lines on
each arm or tentacle. and continue
4, the very tip. The suckers on the
thu are almost invisible to the naked
eve. being SO small. It Is through
these suckers that an OctoNls de-
rives its tremendous power. II can
catch a fish or human. and hold
II with the suckers Of one or two
arms and catch another arm on
a rock. Ii Is practically impossible
to escape. The suckers are circular,
with a hole in the center like q
d.1uqhnut. In this hole Is a piston
which works I'D and down similar
to a piston in an automobile. This
Is what gives II the sucking power.
How car one tell a male from
a female?" Is another question that
science fails TO answer with any
degree of certainty. The accented
theory Is that there Is n differ
erfce between the sexes-on .e
female the suckers do not extend
to the tip OF one arm. and on this
sa me arm runs a white line. from
the tin to the base. On the male,
ally arms are exactly alike. with
suckers running TO the tip OF al
&c ntacles.
IF this Is correct. the Port Isabel
octopus is a female.
Mr.. Trainer next explained how
an octopus could eat mol
III :ks. or shellfish such as crabs
Holsters. etc.
IAN octopus has one bone in its
be dy. and that bone Is a beak-like
thing exactly In the center and
urder the body. IL catches a crab
or any other shellfish with its
ar ms, and then carries 1t to this
beak. The beak taps the shell IN