CEPHALOPODS OF WESTERN NORTH AiMERICA. 33 1 



the lower side and pinkish; on the back these dots are nearly black and placed close together so as to 

 produce a mottled appearance. Between the back and sides there is a well-marked lighter band 

 extending from the edge of the fins to the anterior end of the body. 



Shell narrow, pointed in front, and tapering backwards regularly, except the last half inch which 

 is dilated into the usual slipper-like process. 



Length of body, 5.5 in.; circumference, 3 in.; length of fin, 1.8 in.; width of fin, 3.4 in.; length of 

 head, .8 in.; breadth (about), .9 in.; length of longest sessile arm, 2.1 in.; length of shortest. 1.5 in; 

 length of tentacular arm, 2.5 in. ; length of siphon (about), .5 in. 



Locality. — Coast of California? 



The specimen was presented to me by Dr. W. O. Ayers, of San Francisco, and was found in a lot of 

 salt, most probably from near Point Conception. The colors are well-preserved, but the specimen 

 is so soft after relaxation that the exact form of the head can not be determined. 



It resembles O. sagiitata, d'Orb., in both external form and the shape of the shell. It differs from 

 that species, however, in the much shorter tentacular arms and tlie broader fin. The shell, which is 

 pointed in nearly the same manner anteriorly, tapers regularly, while in d'Orbigny's species it is sud- 

 denly constricted. 



[From Zoe, vol. in, 1892, p. 51-52.] 



NOTE ON A CALIFORNIAN LOLIGO. 



By Henry Hemphill. 



In the July (1891) number of the Nautilus, in an article under the heading "Edible Shell Notes," 

 Mr. R. E. C. Steams mentions a "Ten-armed Cephalopod" which he had seen offered as an article of 

 food in the San Francisco markets. Recently, while passing through tlie San Francisco and Oakland 

 markets, I found a form of a loligo lying on the stalls of the fish dealers, which they offered at 25 cents 

 per pound, and which I think is the "Ten-armed cephalopod" referred to by Mr. Steams. Doctor 

 Cooper informs me that he had observed a shoal of loligo at Monterey, some years ago, but having no net 

 he was unable to secure a specimen. These that we find here in the markets now are said, by the fish 

 dealers, to be taken in nets outside the Heads by the Chinese fishermen. 



The body and arms of my largest specimen measures about 10 inches, the two longest arms being 

 about three inches longer. The arms are not webl)ed, but each of tlie eight short ones have two rows of 

 suckers their entire length, while the two other arms have a small patch of small suckers toward tlieir 

 tips. It took nine individuals of Uiose I purchased from the fish dealer to weigh a pound, so we may 

 say they weigh about two ounces each. In cleaning for cooking they will lose about half their weight, 

 and each one will then furnish about one ounce of flesh. 



In prcp;u-ing tliem for cooking, after having removed the outer skin, pen, head, arms and entrails, 

 they should be carefully washed, and fried in plenty of hot butter or fat, and seasoned to the taste. 



Those which I had prepared and cooked were a little tough, though quite palatable, being nicely 

 flavored, but they never will take the place of Uie delicious oysters and clams that have inspired poets 

 to sing their praises. 



In the form of its body and the coloring, as well as in the form of the pen, it closely resembles Loligo 

 Gahi D'Orbigny, but as I have no other material with which to compare it, and no description of that 

 form, I can not say definitely wlietlier it is that species or not. This form makes an interesting addition 

 to our west coast Cephalopods, and if upon further study I should conclude it to be new I propose to call 

 it Loligo Stcarnsii. 



The following is a list of all the Cephalopods known to our coast, from San Diego to Alaska: 

 Argonauta argo L. 

 Octopus punctatus Gabb. 

 Ammostrephes ayresii Gabb. 

 Ammostrephes giganteus Gabb. 

 Onychoteuthis fusiformis Gabb. 



