These clouds, or blushes as they may be called, are said to be produced by the alternate expansion and contraction of minute vesicles containing variously coloured fluids.

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See "Encyclopedia of Anatomy and Physiology" article "Cephalopoda.") This cuttle-fish displayed its chameleon-like power both during the act of swimming and whilst remaining stationary at the bottom.

I was much amused by the various arts to escape detection used by one individual, which seemed fully aware that I was watching it.
Remaining for a time motionless, it would then stealthily advance an inch or two, like a cat after a mouse; sometimes changing its colour: it thus proceeded, till having gained a deeper part, it darted away, leaving a dusky train of ink to hide the hole into which it had crawled.
While looking for marine animals, with my head about two feet above the rocky shore, I was more than once saluted by a jet of water, accompanied by a slight grating noise.

At first I could not think what it was, but afterwards I found out that it was this cuttle-fish, which, though concealed in a hole, thus often led me to its discovery.