264 S. STILLMAN BERRY. 



vidual which swam rapidly near the surface, giving out its 

 phosphorescence, and then my friend from the top of the wall 

 dexterously manipulated his long-handled 'peneiro' (dip-net). 

 I obtained in this manner a dozen examples, and I could have 

 had many more if I had had need of them. It was an evening 

 warm and calm, and it seems to me that it is for this fine 

 weather that the Abralia shows preference. At least it is i-n 

 summer and autumn that the charming cephalopod arrives near 

 the walls of the harbor of Pontinha. This locality is very 

 sheltered, almost closed to currents and winds, and it is 

 perhaps this circumstance which draws it to this nook of the 

 shore, attracted furthermore by the lamp which illumines 

 the quay. Indeed, as I believe, this cephalopod has never 

 been seen in the five less protected places on the south coast of 

 Madeira, where, during the night, they drag the fish seines, and 

 where it would be easy to capture them if they were there. I 

 myself have investigated these places, but I have seen taken 

 in the nets only the common cephalopods of Madeira: a 

 Loligo, a Sepia, and a Polypus. 



" I would also broach the opinion that the Abralia veranyi is 

 an abyssal species which at night in summer migrates vertically 

 and horizontally to attain the shore line, and by day betakes 

 itself anew to the depths of the ocean." 

 Under date of February I, 1922, Sr. Nunes wrote me further: 



"The cephalopod in question has been captured by myself 

 in the sheltered quay of this city of Funchal, called the Quay of 

 Pontinha, during the months of July, August, and September. 

 Almost every year one may capture them in this harbor during 

 the night where they approach the steps of debarcation, 

 following the lighting of the electric lamps of the above- 

 mentioned steps. With a certain alacrity one may catch them 

 with the aid of a little wire basket, because these animals come 

 almost to the surface of the water, being distinguishable by the 

 brilliancy ('6clat') of a bluish phosphorescence which they 

 cause to gleam from their eyes." 



From these notes it would appear that the phenomena described 

 are distinctly seasonal in character. This fact, the exceeding 

 vigor and activity evinced by the animals when captured, and 



