A. E. Verrill — MoUusca of the N'e^o England Coast. 399 



In all our ten localities between 2000 and 3000 fathoms, the 

 bottom has been " globigerina ooze." We have never met with the 

 " red clay " which ought to occur at such depths, according to the 

 observations made on the cruise of the Challenger. 



The temperatures observed with the improved thermometers now 

 used on the Albatross were between 36°-4 and 3'7°'00 F., in 2000 to 

 2600 fathoms. But temperatures essentially the same as these were 

 also taken in 1000 to 1500 fathoms, and even in 965 fathoms one 

 observation gave 36°-8 F. It follows from these observations that 

 nearly the minimum temperature is reached at about 1000 fathoms 

 in this region. 



CEPHALOPODA. 



Ancistrocheirus megaptera Terriii, sp. nov. 

 Plate XLII, figures 1, la. 



Body small, rather short, with an acute posterior end, extending a 

 little beyond the posterior border of the fin. Fins very large, thick 

 and strong, attached nearly the entire length of the body, and together 

 forming a broad, rhombic figure, with the outer angles behind the 

 middle ; anteriorly the attachment of the fin does not reach quite to 

 the edge of the mantle, and the front edge forms a slight rounded 

 lobe in front of the attachment ; posteriorly the fins are nearly united, 

 across the back, but leave the acute, posterior tip of the body free for 

 a short distance. The front edge of the mantle i*ecedes in a broad 

 curve ventrally, but has slightly prominent lateral lobes and a broad 

 obtuse dorsal angle, which extends farther forward than the lateral 

 ones. The head is leather large, with large eyes, furnished with thin 

 free lids. The siphon is rather large, with two small dorsal bridles. 

 The connective cartilages on its base are rather small, ear-shaped, 

 much as in Omniastrephes. The arms are rather large, not very 

 unequal in size, the dorsal ones slightly smaller than the others ; all 

 are unusually rounded and most of them, in our specimen, have lost 

 their tips. They all bear two alternating rows of small, prominent 

 sharp claws, which are not very closely arranged. The inner face is 

 not separated from the sides by a distinct margin. The tentacular 



upon the precise locality of such relics is very curious. Otherwise than in this 

 instance we have rarely found in deep water any human traces except coal cinders 

 from steamers. 

 Trans. Conn. Acatj., Vol. YI. 50 April, 1885. 



