Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part II. For the year 1758.: Giving some account of the present undertakings, studies, and labours, of the ingenious, in many considerable parts of the world.Various
History
Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part II. For the year 1758.: Giving some account of the present undertakings, studies, and labours, of the ingenious, in many considerable parts of the world.
Various
Science -- Periodicals
The Cuttle-fish, and the Calamary, have each of them ten arms; of which
eight are shorter ones, tapering gradually to a point from the head,
where they all rise, to their extremities: the other two (frequently
called Tentacula) are three or four times as long, perfectly round,
slender, and of an equal thickness for above two thirds of their whole
length; then spreading into a form nearly like that of the shorter
arms. Great numbers of _acetabula_, or suckers, are placed somewhat
irregularly on each of the shorter arms, and on the spreading parts of
the Tentacula, where some of the suckers are a great deal larger than
the rest.
The body of the Cuttle-fish is broad and flat, having within it a broad
friable white bone; that of the Calamary is a sort of cartilaginous
case holding the intestines, of a roundish oblong shape, furnished with
two fins, and having within it a thin transparent elastic substance
like Isinglass.
[Illustration: _Philos. Trans. Vol. L._ TAB. XXIX. _p. 779_
_G. Edwards delin AD. 1758_ _J. Mynde sc._]
The mouth of the Pour-contrel, Cuttle-fish, and Calamary, is placed in
the fore-part of the head, between the arms, having an horny beak, hard
and hooked like a parrot’s, which some writers call the teeth. The eyes
of them all are nearly in the same position.
As the subject under examination resembles in some particulars all the
above kinds of Polypi, this short account of them may, it is hoped,
render the following description of it the more intelligible: and
with the same view, Mr. George Edwards, Fellow of the Royal Society,
has been so obliging as to make drawings of the animal itself, in
four different positions, and of the natural size; which drawings are
herewith presented to your Lordship.
Our Polypus is of the Pour-contrel kind, and I believe of that species
called Bolytæna; which is said to have a musky smell; but if ours had
such a smell, the spirits wherein it lies have taken it quite away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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