170 



April 1th, 1862. 



President in the Chair.^ 



The following paper was presented by Mr. W. M. Gabh. 



Descriptions of two new species of Cepiialopodes in the 

 Museum of the California Academy of Natural Sciences. 



Octoptis punctatus. — Body ovate, rounded at the extremity. 

 Head moderately large, without any well marked neck ; compressed 

 above, about one-fifth as long as the body, abruptly truncated in 

 advance of the eyes, so that the constriction below the arms is 

 barely more than half as wide as the greatest diameter of the head. 

 Eyes of medium size ; not prominent ; color destroyed by alcohol. 

 Abdominal aperture wide, the ends being directly behind the eyes ; 

 lip simple and acute. Siphon broad at the base, rapidly narrowing 

 and extending a little beyond the origin of the arms. Arms sub- 

 quadrate in section, the largest about four times the length of the 

 body ; proportionate length beginning with the dorsal side, 2, 1, 4, 

 3, varying very httle in length, and bemg of about the same thick- 

 ness. Cupules moderate, about half the diameter of the arms, 

 largest just beyond the termination of the umbrella ; short, robust, 

 tapering almost imperceptibly, and slightly constricted just below 

 the top. Umbrella small, not extending between the ainns for one- 

 fourth of their length, but continued as a very narrow membrane, 

 for about one-half of their length along the side farthest from the 

 dorsal side. Mouth very small, surrounded by small 'hps. Sur- 

 face smooth, flesh-colored, and profusely marked by very minute 

 reddish-brown, or chocolate-colored points. These points arc so 

 closely placed on the dorsal surface of the body and arms, as to 

 produce a nearly uniform, dirty-brown appearance ; on the inside 

 of the arms, the inner surface of the umbrella, and the Avhole ven- 

 tral surface they are sparsely scattered. Length of body and head 

 to origin of the anus, 3-5 inches. Circumference of body, at its 

 broadest part, 4-3 inches. Length of body to the opening in the 

 abdomen, 2-5 inches. Breadth of head, 14 mches. Length of 

 the longest arm, from the mouth, 10*8 inches. Length of shortest, 

 9-25 inches. Circumference of one arm, 2 inches. Diameter of 

 largest cupule, -3 in. Length of siphon, -7 in. Diameter at 

 base, -7 in. Diameter at apex, (flattened) -3 in. 



Locahty — common in the neighborhood of San Francisco. Also 

 found on the coast of Lower California, having been brought from 

 Scammon's Lagoon, in abundance, by Capt. C. M. Scammon. The 



