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Show Proof That Octopus Must Have "Purchase" Experiments have been made In a specially devised tank in order to test the truth of many stories told of oc-topl oc-topl attacking human beings and dragging drag-ging them to the sea bottom. In the tank with the octopus experimented experi-mented with there was placed "dummy" of the same specific gravity as a human being, and this was baited bait-ed with a crab. Attracted by this tempting morsel, the octopus made for the dummy, seized it ln its powerful pow-erful tentacles, and tried to drag H under the water, but without success. It then went to one side of the tank, and, holding onto the edge of the glass with some of" Its arms, it dragged Its prey beneath the surface and crushed the crab shell with Us powerful jaws. It Is believed that these experiments afford proof that the octopus can drag its victims far below the surface nf the water only near rocks to which It can attach its "suckers." There is one spot In the Buy of Naples where these creatures attain a large size, and now and then a fisherman fish-erman Is reported missing. n |
