“ We sometimes read, of gigantic octopuses being caught in such remote places as north-western America or south Australia, but the general idea of a British octopus is gathered from the horrible but harmless little bunch of fleshy tentacles, with the bulbous head, which gracefully glides through the waters of the Brighton Aquarium and flops down uncouthly on the artificial rocks. Nevertheless, there are giant octopuses in our seas, as readers of Victor Hugo's thrilling romance, "Les Travailleurs de la Mer," have learned to their groundless horror. ”