REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [124] 
linin g tlie palate bears pale yellowish, scattered, stout, not very acute, 
and but slightly curved teeth, with bases not much enlarged; among 
these are clusters of small, stony, smoothish granules, often aggregated 
into masses of considerable size. The gular membrane also bears ag¬ 
gregations of small, smoothish, rounded, and angular granules, with 
others that are larger, oblong, and oval, smooth, and more or less regu¬ 
larly arranged. The oesophagus is very long and slender, dark colored. 
Measurements of Histioteuthis Collinsii. 
Millimeters. 
niches. 
12.5 
.50 
17. 5 
.70 
6.2 
.25 
69 
2.75 
31 
1. 25 
37 
1. 50 
355 
14 
432 
17 
438 
17. 25 
361 
14.25 
22.5 
.90 
19 
.75 
22.5 
.90 
87 
3.50 
203 to 254 
8 to 10 
6.5 
.26 
Taken from the stomach of Alepidosaurus ferox , lat. 42° 49', long. 82° 
57', off Nova Scotia, by Capt. J. W. Collins and crew of the schooner 
u Marion,” 1879. 
All parts back of the eyes are absent; the eyes are mutilated, but the 
specimen is otherwise in excellent preservation, even the web and suck¬ 
ers being nearly uninjured. 
In addition to the original specimen, above described, another speci¬ 
men, represented by the jaws alone, has been received by the United 
States Fish Commission from the Gloucester fisheries (lot 843). This 
was obtained on the Western Bank, off Nova Scotia. 
Another beak was dredged by the u Fish Hawk,” at station 893, south 
of Newport, R. I., in 372 fathoms. 
These jaws agree well in size and all other characters with those of 
the original specimen (Plate XXIV, fig. 4). 
Family DESMOTEUTHIDiE Verrill. 
Trans. Conn. Acad., vol. v, p. 300, Feb., 1881. 
For the reception of the genera Desmoteuthis V. and Taonius St., as 
defined below, I established this new family, which had previously been 
confounded with Cranchidce and Loligopsidcc. 
Body much elongated, pointed posteriorly; caudal fin narrow, termi¬ 
nal, mantle united to neck by a dorsal and two lateral muscular commis¬ 
sures. Pen lance-shaped, as long as the mantle, with a long, narrow 
shaft; blade incurved or hooded posteriorly. Oesophagus and intestine 
very much elongated. Nidamental glands and oviducts large, symmet¬ 
rical. Eyes large, protuberant; lids free and simple. No auditory 
crests. Siphon large, with neither internal valve nor dorsal bridle. 
