402 A. E. Verrill — Mollusca of the Nev> England Coast. 



in the middle portion, becoming gradually a little wider to the ante- 

 rior end, which is thin and pen-like in form. The posterior tip is 

 imperfect in the specimen dissected. 



The connective cartilages on the sides of the mantle are simple, 

 elongated, broadest posteriorly, tapering anteriorly, and somewhat 

 curved downward in the middle, with a long, narrow, simple central 

 fosse. The connective cartilages on the sides of the mantle are low, 

 simple, longitudinal ridges, running back from the lateral angles of 

 the mantle-edge. In the female there are two pairs of oblong, flat- 

 tened nidamental glands, one pair on the ventral side below the 

 heart, the other pair a little farther forward, lying between the gills 

 and intestines and surrounding the oviducts, which are symmetrically 

 developed, one on each side. The ovary is large, occupying the pos- 

 terior ventral portion of the body-cavity. 



This interesting genus shows, in several respects, marke^l embry- 

 onic or primitive characters, recalling the young stages of Omma- 

 strephes and Zioligo. These are seen especially in the small size, 

 posterior position and form of the fins ; in the form of the body, head 

 and mantle ; in the small short arms, with the dorsal pair shortest ; 

 in the small simple suckers ; in the want of differentiation of the 

 tentacular club and the uniformity of its minute suckers. The affini- 

 ties of the genus are probably with the gi'oup represented by 

 Ommastrephes, as shown by the distinct eye-lids and sinus, and by 

 the character of the connective cartilages of the mantle. The pen, 

 however, is somewhat like that of Loligo in form, but the form of 

 the pen appears to be of little value in determining the affinities of 

 the squids. 



Benthoteuthis megalops Verriii, sp. uov. 



Plate XLIV, figuee 1. 



Body rather sliort, thick, rounded, tapering slightly from the ante- 

 rior margin backward ; posterior extremity bluntly rounded ; fins 

 small, situated close to the end of the body, attached by rather short 

 bases to the sides of the body, nearest the dorsal side, but not united 

 to the end of the body posteriorly. The fins are somewhat rounded 

 in outline, projecting both forward and backward beyond their basal 

 or attached portion, the free posterior margin extending backward as 

 far as or beyond the end of the body, which shows, in a dorsal view, 

 as a rounded lobe between the fins. The anterior margin of the 

 mantle extends far forward over the back of the head, whicli it 

 partially conceals; on the dorsal side there is a slightly prominent. 



