Arcttiti-uthus. \ CEPHALOPODA. 104i> 



The following measurements were taken : Body, from anterior 

 margin of mantle to end of tail, 8 ft. 3 in. ; head, from margin of 

 mantle to base of arms, 1 ft. 9 in. ; sessile arms, 6 ft. 6 in. ; tentacular 

 arms. 18ft. 10 in. ; extreme length. 28ft. 10 in. The greatest cir- 

 cumference must have been 8ft., and the number of suckers on -the 

 sessile arms over 50. 



Hob.- -Cape Campbell and the adjacent coasts seem to be places 

 of favourite resort for these great Cephalopods during the winter 

 months, a year seldom passing without one or more of them being 

 cast on shore, usually during the months of June and July. The 

 greater number, however, of these, owing to the attacks of sharks, 

 dog-fish, and porpoises, are stranded in such a mutilated condition 

 as to be of little value to the naturalist. A Decapod when cast ashore 

 is unable to return to the water, as is the case with the Octopods. 

 (C. W. Robson.) 



2. Architeuthus longimanus, T. W. Kirk. 1888. Plate 64, tig. 1. 



Architeuthis longimanus, T. W. Kirk, T.N.Z. 1., xx, 1887 (1888), 34. pis. 7-9 ; 

 Index, 58. 



Sessile arms unequal in size and length, increasing from the dorsal 

 to the ventral. First pair (dorsal) shorter than the body, triangular 

 in section, with a stout fleshy membrane on each of the inner angles, 

 the inner one slightly longer than the outer ; this membrane can be 

 folded over the suckers. Second pair (siibdorsal) longer and stouter 

 than the last, but not equal to the length of the body ; rectangular 

 in section, the sides and angles being, however, somewhat rounded, 

 with thick fleshy membrane on each of the inner angles ; these mem- 

 branes are of equal width and strength. A thick crest runs along 

 the outer face of these arms ; it rises nearer the upper than the lower 

 angle, and occupies about three-fourths of the face ; its depth is nearly 

 the diameter of the arm. Third pair (subventral) still larger in all 

 respects, and rather longer than the body ; oval in section, the inner 

 or sucker face being flattened, each angle furnished as in the preceding 

 arms with a fleshy membrane, the outer being slightly more developed 

 than the other. Fourth pair (ventral) very long and exceptionally 

 stout, rather longer than the head and body together ; trapezoidal 

 in section ; stout fleshy membranes on the inner angles, the outer 

 one the longest. A very stout fleshy crest on the lower posterior 

 angle, and a much longer but slighter on the upper posterior angle. 



The arrangement of the suckers on the sessile arms is very re- 

 markable. The first (dorsal) pair carried 54 suckers on each arm. 

 disposed, as usual, in two alternating rows ; but these suckers were all 

 small. The second had only 47 suckers, but these were very much 

 larger than those on the first pair. The third had 86, about the same 

 size or a little smaller than those on the last pair. The fourth 



