1052 CEPHALOPODA. [Dibra'tichia. 



4. Architeuthus Verrilli, T. W. Kirk, 1882. Plate 66, fig. 1. 



Architeuthis Verrilli, T. W. Kirk, T.N.Z.I., xiv, 1881 (1882), 284, pi. 3t, 

 f. 1 ; Index, 58. 



Body short, stout, and nearly round, dilated in the middle. Sessile 

 arms unequal in size and length ; the first, second, and fourth pairs 

 about same length as body and head together, third pair longer and 

 stouter ; all armed with similar suckers, but varying in number, the 

 third pair carrying more than either of the others. 



Tentacular arms, when extended, nearly three times the length of 

 head and body. 



Caudal fin obcordate, small dorsal ; from tip to front margin 

 about one-third the length of the body ; terminating in a blunt point. 

 Suckers stalked. 



Measurements. Length of body and head, 9 ft. 1 in. ; length of 

 first, second, and fourth sessile arms, 9 ft. ; length of third sessile 

 arm, 10 ft. 5 in. ; circumference of body, 9 ft. 2 in. 



Special Description. This specimen was stranded at Island Bay, 

 Cook Strait, on Sunday, the 6th June, 1880. When I reached the spot 

 a very large portion of the tentacular arms had been torn off and 

 carried away by the sea. Mr. James McColl, who was then living 

 near the bay, informed me that he discovered the animal on the beach 

 about 7 o'clock that morning ; it was then not quite dead. After 

 recovering from his surprise, he " straightened out the longest feelers 

 and measured them; they were just 25ft.. with broad pieces at the 

 ends. The broad pieces had a row of 15 suckers along each side, and 

 a middle row of 19." The portions of the tentacular arms remaining 

 measured right, 11 ft. 9 in. ; left, 11 ft. ; and 7|- in. in circumference. 

 At intervals of about 3 ft. were placed a sucker and a small fleshy 

 tubercle, the sucker on the left arm corresponding with the tubercle 

 on the right. 



The first, second, and fourth pairs of sessile arms were of equal 

 length and size viz., 9ft. long by 15 in. circumference, each carrying 

 65 suckers. The third pair, much longer and stouter, was 10 ft. 5 in. 

 in length and 21 in. in circumference, armed with 71 suckers. The 

 suckers were arranged in 2 alternate rows. Along each angle of the 

 arms ran a fleshy membrane about 1| in. deep, which could be folded 

 over the suckers. 



Arms connected by a web 11 in. deep, forming a funnel round the 

 mouth. 



Head, 4ft. 3 in. in circumference, and 19 in. from root of arms to 

 anterior margin of mantle. Eye, 5 in. by 4 in. 



Body from anterior margin of mantle to tip of tail, 7 ft. 6 in. : 

 greatest circumference, 9 ft. 2 in. ; at anterior end, 6 ft. 4 in. 



Fins extending on the back, as in the case of Onychoteuthis ; length 

 to anterior margin, 36 in. ; width, 28 in. 



