BY JAMES C. OOX, M.D., F.L.S., ETC. 775 



writing would be thus brought prominently before the readers 

 of the Society's Journal, and, then, by being freely distributed 

 to those persons residing along our coasts, and interested in such 

 pursuits, the compendium would supply the required essential 

 information as to the known genera and species. In addition to 

 this, I trust this production will stimulate into action naturalists 

 and collectors by the reasonable hope of making new discoveries ; 

 and by the laudable desire of confirming, or otherwise, by 

 observation of the living animal, the accuracy of preceding 

 researches. I firmly believe that some of the species are wrongly 

 described, as has been shown by Professor Owen in the Trans- 

 actions of the Zoological Society of London, June 1881, in the 

 case of one of our common Octopods ; while others said to be 

 different, are but one and the same ; so altered do the 

 specimens become in size and in the entire loss of colour, by 

 even a very short immersion in spirits. 



It is very necessary therefore, that careful notes should be made 

 immediately after the capture of the animal in relation to its 

 external appearances, its size, its colour, and in short, to all other 

 features deemed of importance to the observer : also, if practi- 

 cable, a coloured drawing, even if rough, taken before any 

 detrimental change occurs, would be of the greatest advantage 

 for characteristic determination. 



My friend the Hon. William Macleay possesses in his extensive 

 and admirable Museum many specimens of Octopodidas collected, 

 by him at various widely apart localities, stretching, I may say, 

 from this port to New Guinea, during his voyage in theChevert : 

 a voyage undertaken solely for the developement of the natural 

 history of this region. These most interesting specimens will 

 have to be made the subject of a future communication. 



There is at present in the course of publication an admirable 

 and voluminous Manual of Conchology profusely illustrated by 

 excellent coloured plates by Mr. George W. Tryon, Jun., Con- 

 IX 



