Zoology.'] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. \_Molliisca. 



as might be supposed from its frequent use by authors, owing to 

 the fact that in this species the right and left of one pair sometimes 

 vary 3 lines or more in examples as large as that figured (half the 

 natural size) ; so that some measurements would show three pairs of 

 arms equal iu the present species. The nearest ally of this cuttle- 

 fish is the Sepia latimanus (Quoy and Gaim. ) (including the Sepia 

 Rappiana of Feruss.) in size, general shape, form of club, and colour, 

 but differs in the short blunt spine of shell and corresponding- 

 slight convexity of posterior middle part of body between the fins, 

 which, in that species, is acuminate or projects in a long acute 

 point, in accordance with the long acute spine of posterior end of 

 the shell ; the shell of S. ajxima is also proportionately wider than 

 thut of S. latimanus. The proportional greatest width to length 

 from anterior to posterior margin is yW "^ D'Orbigny's figure, 

 although said to be 31 in the text ; it is sensibly narrower than 

 the bone of S. ajxtma, the proportional width of which is fVV- 



Explanation op Figures. 



Plate 18S. — Fig. 1, inlernal bone or shell, dorsal view, of large specimen, two-thirtls of 

 natural size. Fig. lo, ditto, viewed from ventral aspect. Fig. 16, profile view. Fig. Ic, 

 triangular space bene.ath posterior spine, magnified two diameters. Fig. Irf, posterior end, 

 viewed from side, magnified two diameters. Fig. le, vermicular ridging of posterior [lortion of 

 dors.al surface, magnified two diameters. Fig. I/, portion of sutural lines of cell growth from 

 ventriil surface, magnified two diameters. Fig. 2, vertical section of smaller specimen, two- 

 thirds the natural .size, to show relation of cell growths to transverse sutural lines on middle 

 and posterior portion of ventral surface. Fig. 2a, posterior end of ditto, magnified, showing 

 the pad and form of obsolete decurved spine. Fig. 2b, portion of cell structure, more highly 

 magnified, showing the parallelism of the layers (on the right hand), with the smooth, anterior, 

 ventral surface, and their cutting that surface (on the left hand) to form the undulating, trans- 

 verse, imbricating strise of the middle and posterior portions of the ventral surface. ITig. 2c, 

 portion of the same, magnified four diameters. 



Plate 189. — Fig. I, animal, soft'cxternal portion, one-half the natural size, viewed from 

 the ventral side, showing siphon with the "buttons" for attachment of mantle to head, inner 

 side of arms, with their suckers and connecting membranes ; buccal membrane and mouth with 

 the black beaks (the long, retractile, tentacular arms are not extended to their full length). 

 Fig. la, club of one of the long tent.acular arms, showing the suckers and fin on opposite side, 

 natural size. Fig. 16, section of ventral pair of arms, natural size, showing small fin at inner 

 edge of suckers, and the great compression of the back to form its broad fin. Fig. Ic, next pair 

 of arms, showing smaller dorsal fin in section, natural size. Fig. Irf, ditto, next pair of arms. 

 Fig. le, ditto, dorsal pair. Fig. \h, small cup on m.argin of club, magnified two diameters, viewed 

 sideways. Fig. H, same, viewed from above. Fig. 1/, side view of average-sized cup on smaller 

 arms, magnified two diameters. Fig.' Ig, same, viewed from above. Fig. lie. largest cup on club, 

 viewed from side, magnified three diameters, to show fringing of horny ring. Fig. II, profile 

 view of ditto, magnified two diameters. Fig. Im, portion of toothed edge of ditto, m.agnifled 

 five diameters. Fig. In, same, viewed from above. 



Plate 190. — Fig. l,.same cuttle-fish, dors.al view, one-half n.atural size, showing the large 

 eyes, with caruncles above. Fig. la, portion of club, to show r.adiated outer side and broad fin 

 on back, natural size. Fig. 16, buccal membrane and be.aks, one-half natural size. 



Frederick McCoy. 

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