Some of them had
wonderful shapes too, and there was one that riveted my attention
and fascinated me. It was, I thought at first, a heap, composed of
a dog fish, some limpets, and a multitude of water snakes, and other
abominable forms; but my eyes slowly informed me of the fact, which
I took in reluctantly and with extreme disgust, that the whole
formed one living monster, a revolting compound of a large paunch
with eyes, and a multitude of nervy, snaky, out-reaching, twining,
grasping, tentacular arms, several feet in length, I should think,
if extended, but then lying in a crowded undulating heap; the
creature was dying, and the iridescence was passing over what seemed
to be its body in waves of colour, such as glorify the last hour of
the dolphin. But not the colours of the rainbow could glorify this
hideous, abominable form, which ought to be left to riot in ocean
depths, with its loathsome kindred. You have read "Les Travailleurs
du Mer," and can imagine with what feelings I looked upon a living
Devil-fish! The monster is much esteemed by the natives as an
article of food, and indeed is generally relished. I have seen it
on foreign tables, salted, under the name of squid. {276}
We passed on to beautiful creatures, the kihi-kihi, or sea-cock,
with alternate black and yellow transverse bands on his body; the
hinalea, like a glorified mullet, with bright green, longitudinal
bands on a dark shining head, a purple body of different shades, and
a blue spotted tail with a yellow tip.
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