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In the Calamaries and the Poulps the ink-bag is placed in the
upper part of the body, in close proximity to the mytis, whereas in
the Sepia it is lower down, against the stomach. For the Sepia has a
more plentiful supply of ink than the rest, inasmuch as it makes
more use of it. The reasons for this are, firstly, that it lives
near the shore, and, secondly, that it has no other means of
protection; whereas the Poulp has its long twining feet to use in
its defence, and is, moreover, endowed with the power of changing
colour. This changing of colour, like the discharge of ink, occurs
as the result of fright. As to the Calamary, it lives far out at
sea, being the only one of the Cephalopoda that does so; and this
gives it protection. These then are the reasons why the ink is more
abundant in the Sepia than in the Calamary, and this greater abundance
explains the lower position; for it allows the ink to be ejected
with ease even from a distance. The ink itself is of an earthy
character, in this resembling the white deposit on the surface of a
bird's excrement and the explanation in both cases is the same,
namely, the absence of a urinary bladder. For, in default of this,
it is the ink that serves for the excretion of the earthiest matter.
And this is more especially the case in the Sepia, because there is
a greater proportion of earth in its composition than in that of the
other Cephalopoda
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