[ 187 ] CEPHALOPODS OF NORTHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 
18 mm. length of modified portion of third right arm, 18 mm ; breadth of 
this organ, when expanded, 11.5 mm . Subsequently, considerably larger 
specimens, both male and female, have been taken. 
One of the largest males (station 878) measures, from tip of dorsal arms 
to end of body, 163 mm ; from edge of dorsal web to end of body, 75 mm ; 
from edge of mantle beneath, to end of body, 38 mm ; breadth of body, 
48 mm. 0 f hearty 44 mm. i en gth of dorsal arms, to beak, 110 mm ; of secoud 
pair, 112 mm : of third pair, 115 mm ; of fourth pair, 110 mm ; of hectocotyl- 
ized arm, 85 ram ; length of terminal spoon, 33 mm ; its breadth, 17 mm . 
This specimen has 13 transverse lamellae in the spoon. 
One of the largest females (station 895) taken in the breeding season 
and filled with eggs, in alcohol, measures, from tip of dorsal arms to end 
of body, 170 mm ; edge of dorsal web to end of body, 90 mm ; mantle, be¬ 
neath, 46 mm ; breadth of body, 55 mm ; of head, 41 mm ; length of dorsal 
arms, from beak, 125 mm ; of second pair, 120 mm ; of third pair, 115 mm ; of 
fourth pair, 115 mm . 
When living, the ground-color was usually pale, translucent, bluish 
white above, thickly specked with light orange-brown and dark purplish 
brown. Its colors were changeable, but apparently less actively so than 
in the squids. 
This species was first discovered by the writer while dredging, in 
1872, on the United States Steamer “Mosswood”, in the Bay of Fundy, 
off Eastport, Me., in 75 to 80 fathoms. Although so recently discovered, 
it proves to have a very extensive range, both geographically and in 
depth. It is one of the most common and characteristic inhabitants of 
the bottom, in 100 to 500 fathoms, along our entire coast, from South 
Carolina to Newfoundland. It was taken in the trawl, by the U. S. 
Fish Commission, in 1872,1873,1874, 1877,1878,1879, 1880, and 1881, in 
depths ranging from 50 to 500 fathoms, at numerous localities, from off 
Halifax, N. S., and the Bay of Fundy, to the region 90 to 100 miles 
south of Martha’s Vineyard and Newport, R. I., where it is common and 
of large size. It was obtained by Mr. A. Agassiz, on the “Blake”, in 
1880, at various stations, from N. lat. 41° 34' 30", to 32° 43' 25",. in 178 
to 524 fathoms. 
In November, 1880, it was taken by Lieut. Z. L. Tanner, on the “Fish 
Hawk”, oft’ the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, in 157 to 300 fathoms. 
The Gloucester fishermen have brought in several specimens from the 
banks off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. These were presented by 
Captain Murphey and crew, of the schooner “Alice M. Williams” (lots 
372, 501, 917); by Capt. J. W. Collins and crew, of the “Marion” (lot 
264); by Capt. J. F. Critchett and crew, of the “Commonwealth” (lot 
421); by Mr. E. Perkins, of the “Grace L. Fears” (lot 351); by Mr. 
Robert Hurlburt, of the “ Barracouta ” (lot G05); by Capt. Thomas Olsen 
and crew, of the “Epes Tarr” (lot 771); and by Capt. J. McDonald 
and crew, of the “ G. P. Whitman ” (lot 792). 
