T. W. Kiek. — On a new Species of Architeuthis. 35 



beach at Island Bay. In the last volume of " Transactions " 

 Mr. C. H. Kobson mentions that yet another, differing in many 

 points from both the Wellington specimens, was found amongst 

 the rocks at Cape Campbell. And now we have another of 

 these highly interesting, but very objectionable, visitors. Early 

 last month Mr. Smith, a local fisherman, brought to the 

 Museum the beak and buccal-mass of a cuttle which had that 

 morning been found lying on the "Big Beach" (Lyall Bay), 

 and he assured us that the creature measured sixty-two feet in 

 total length. I that afternoon proceeded to the spot and made 

 a careful examination, took notes, measurements, and also 

 obtained a sketch, which, although the terribly heavy rain and 

 driving southerly wind rendered it impossible to do justice to 

 the subject, will, I trust, convey to you some idea of the general 

 outline of this most recently-arrived Devil-fish. 



Measurements showed that, although Mr. Smith was over 

 the mark in giving the total length as 62 feet (probably, not 

 having a measure with him, he only stepped the distance), 

 those figures were not so very far out ; for, although the body 

 was in all ways smaller than any of the hitherto-described New 

 Zealand species, the enormous development of the very slight 

 tentacular arms brought the total length up to 55 feet 2 inches, 

 or more than half as long again as the largest species yet 

 recorded from these seas. 



The length of the tentacular arms is not a very important 

 character, as they are known to be capable of extension or 

 retraction at the will of the animal, at least to a considerable 

 extent. 



The fact that these monsters are only stranded in the 

 winter, and their comparative frequency during that season, 

 appears to show that they venture nearer shore at that time of 

 the year, probably in order to feed on the shore fishes, and being 

 caught by a gale are stranded, when not dead, in such an 

 exhausted condition as to be almost powerless. Indeed I am 

 inclined to think, that were they thrown ashore in robust health, 

 they could not reach the water. My reason for saying so, is 

 that I have tried experiments with specimens of the smaller 

 Cephalopods caught in fishermen's nets, and have invariably 

 found that whilst the true octopus will fight fiercely, he will 

 steadily make for his native element, and has little difficulty in 

 travelling on land ; whilst the squid or decapod, although occa- 

 sionally showing fight on land, appears unable to drag its long 

 body over the ground, and therefore, if the tide is receding, it is 

 sure to die before the next rise. 



This specimen was a female, and to this fact may be due 

 some of the points in which it differs from previous occurrences ; 

 but yet they are so considerable that I have no doubt a new sub- 

 genus at least will have to be created for its reception. In the 



