PRELLAIINARY DIAGNOSES OF NEW CEPHALOPODS FROM 

 THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. 



By S. Stillman Berry, 



Of Redlands, California. 



The ceplialopods, wholly pelagic forms, which were obtained by 

 the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey steamer Bache during 

 her cruise in the western North Atlantic in the early months of 

 1914, were submitted to the writer for study and report by the 

 Bureau of Fisheries. The work was begun at once, but was abruptly 

 interrupted by the circumstances attendant upon the entry and 

 participation of the United States in the World War, and its resump- 

 tion proved impossible until last year. As it appears that the 

 publication of the final report upon the collection as a whole is likely 

 to be yet further delayed, it seems desirable to publish a preliminary 

 account of such new forms, some of them of considerable intrinsic 

 interest, as have thus far come to light in the course of examina- 

 tion of the material. More detailed descriptions and figures of each 

 species will appear in connection with the ultimate complete report 

 above referred to. 



The present figures are from drawings by J. Stanley Ferguson. 



CHIROTEUTHOIDES, new genus. 



Small, loliginiform oegopsids, having the anterior mantle margin 

 free, the funicular locking cartilages elongate and simple. Body 

 elongate, continued between and past the fins as a minute, needle- 

 like process, probably bearing accessory fins or membranes when 

 entire. Ventral arms greatly developed as in CJdroteutMs and allied 

 genera, the third pair the reverse. Arm suckers in two rows through- 

 out. 



Type. — Chiroteuthoides hastula, new species. 



CHIROTEUTHOIDES HASTULA, new species. 



Plate 16, fig. 3. 

 Diagnosis. — Body more or less C5dindrical, narrow, tapering quite 

 suddenly and rapidly just in front of the fins to a minute, needle-like 

 aciculum, consisting mainly of the very attenuate posterior portion 

 of the gladius, which extends between the fins and some distance 

 past them. Fins nearly circular, about one-third as long as the sac- 

 like part of the mantle, strongly indented posteriorly; anterior margins 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum. Vol. 58-No. 2335. 



