CHAP. 47.—THE NAUTILUS, OR SAILING POLYPUS.
Among the most remarkable curiosities is the animal which
has the name [Note] of nautilus, or, as some people call it, the
pompilos. Lying with the head upwards, it rises to the surface
of the water, raising itself little by little, while, by means of
a certain conduit in its body, it discharges all the water, and
this being got rid of like so much bilge-water as it were, it
finds no difficulty in sailing along. Then, extending backwards its two front arms, it stretches out between them a
membrane [Note] of marvellous thinness, which acts as a sail
spread out to the wind, while with the rest of its arms it
paddles along below, steering itself with its tail in the middle,
which acts as a rudder. Thus does it make its way along the
deep, mimicking the appearance of a light Liburnian [Note] bark;
while, if anything chances to cause it alarm, in an instant it
draws in the water, and sinks to the bottom. [Note]
