The egg and hatchling of Sepia officinalis L. is relatively large, compared with those of other cephalopods. We review the information on growth, chromatophores, behaviour, prey capture, colour and body patterns of this sepiid, for correlation with changes in morphology and development of its central nervous system. We compare the early life of S. officinalis with that of the common octopod, Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier 1797. Sepia officinalis is initially benthopelagic but subsequently is mostly benthic in habit. Octopus vulgaris enters the plankton immediately after hatching and spends several weeks there before it settles to a life spent mostly on the bottom.