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[[circled]] 38 [[/circled]]

Ceph., July 2, 1981, II. 

continuously.

His interest in the egg-laying site may be a natural correlate, or even consequence, of the strengthened pair bond. 

So may be the apparent reduction or simplification of precopulatory display.

It is also possible that the apparent reduction of "silver" displays in general may be due to their extreme conspicuousness, only too easily noticed by predators. (Could "Z" fall into the same category?).

Perhaps the "liks" of Sepia latimanus could also be explained as adaptations to maintain gregarioiusness through the sexual period. 

Of course, the reason why the local lessoniana may be particularly vulnerable to predation is the proximity of deep and open water. (Bill Hammer told me today that oceanic squids are almost impossible to see during dives - presumably because they are too frightened of new stimuli.)

It will be interested to observe the "lessoniana" of Palau in their semi-protected lagoon!

Guam,
July 3, 1981

Back to glass Breakwater. Weather much as usual. Mostly sun. Occasional rain. Wind stronger than yesterday.

A starts tow from tip 9:32 am. Goes past sites where egg-laying was seen 2 and 3 days ago.

9:38. Finds group of Sepiots. 40+ Two apparent pairs of large inds. Other inds. smaller (but none very small). I go into water. The animals are near surface (again) in 6-8 ft of water over boulders. All more or less in Ord The Ord of the 2 pairs of larges definitely is "plus." There is little or no courtship within the pairs. Inds are swimming or floating in a variety of un-interesting postures. Horizontal. Slight "Downward P". Or slight "Upward P". All these postures obviously are unritualized.

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