84 



Jfirst annual deport 



months ago and now in press, the writer expressed the opinion that 

 0. banksii would very likely be found to occur in the waters of our 

 region, but so prompt a confirmation of the statement was scarcely 

 to have been expected. 



From all other West American species excepting only the gigantic 

 Moroteuthis of Alaska, 0. baiiksii is readily distinguishable by the 

 double series of powerful hooks on the tentacle clubs as shown in the 

 accompanying photograph (Figure 45). The curious "fixing appar- 

 atus" at the base of the club (Figure 46) furnishes another con- 

 spicuous character. This structure comprises a compact, rounded 



Figure 45 



Showing hooked tentacle clubs of 



Onychoteuthis banksii. 



group of suckers and pad-like organs so arranged that the suckers 

 on one tentacle fit perfectly over the pads of its mate, securing a 

 most powerful adhesion at a point where such support very greatly 

 increases the prehensile power of the tentacles. The immense rhom- 

 boid fins are also characteristic. 



So far as I have been able to determine from the literature the 

 present individual is by far the largest specimen of the species which 

 has happened to be placed on record. D'Orbigny* gives the total 

 length of 0. bdiikxii as 310 mm., mantle length 130 mm.; of the 

 identical 0. anyulatirf as 400 mm.; mantle 130 mm. Tryon gives the 



*Moll, viv. et. foss., 1845, p. 387. 



j-Voy, Amer. Merid., Moll., p 43, 1845. 



