Boone, Mollusca, Cruises of "Ara" and "Alva" 345 



median ridge and slightly divergent depression on either side of 

 this. The ventral surface has the posterior third of the shell ex- 

 cavate, marked by the successive transverse sinuate lines of 

 growth. (See fig. 22). 



TTie males are said to have a more oval body than do the fe- 

 males and to have their fins distinguished by a linear v^hite margin. 



Colour : Reference is made to Verany's exquisite colour plate 

 24 of this species. Characteristic colour form of this squid, v^^hich 

 is subject to the usual colour change of Sepiae, is a deep reddish 

 purple with darker blackish purple transverse bands; some of 

 which are branching with smallish white maculations inter- 

 spersed; eye jewel-like. 



Eggs : The egg capsules frequently occur in approximately a 

 thousand per cluster. The embryos have been the subjeci; of a very 

 thorough study, made at the Naples Aquarium by Dr. A. Naef. 

 The very young squid are eaten extensively by crustaceans and 

 fishes. 



Remarks : This species is commercially important in the Medi- 

 terranean countries, not only as food, but for use in the extraction 

 of the pigment Sepiae from the ink-sac, and also for the making 

 of an abrasive chalk-like powder, used as a base in modeling. 



References : Sepia officionalis, Linne, C. von., 1758, Syst. Nat. 

 ed. X, p. 658. — Verany, J. B., Cephalopodes de la Mediter- 

 ranee, 1851, pp. 65-70, pi. 24 (colour). — Naef, A., Fauna e 

 Flora del Golfo di Napoli, publ. della Sta. Zool. di Napoli, 

 Monogr. XXXV-a, Die Cephalopoden, Berlin, 1923, Text I, 

 Bd. I, p. 547 and numerous illustrations (with exhaustive 

 diagnosis and synonymy). — Nobre, A., Moluscos Marinhos 

 de Portugal Inst, de Zool. de Univ. d. Porto, 1931, p. 23, pi. 7, 

 fig. 1 (with detailed distribution in Portuguese waters). 



Family: SEPIOLIDAE 



Genus: EUPRYMNA Steenstrup 



Euprjmna scolopes Berry 



*• 



Plate 146 



Type : The type series was taken by the United States Bureau 

 of Fisheries Steamer "Albatross" at station 3905, surface, off 



