286 



A. E. Verritl — North American Clephalopods. 



also apjDly to the nidamental glands, which might assume a different 

 form, as well as greater volume, at the breeding season. 



The specimens dissected had all been preserved in alcohol, which, 

 also, would cause these organs to appear smaller than is natural. 



Additional yiote 07i distribution. — After the previous pages were 

 printed, additional specimens of this species were obtained, extending 

 its range much farther southward, in the deep water, near the edge 

 of the Gulf Stream. Although we cannot be certain that specimens 

 thus caught in the trawl were living at the bottom, owing to the 

 possibility of their entering it during its ascent, it is very probable 

 that they do actually inhabit those depths. This is rendered more 

 probable by the fact that we found adult specimens in the stomachs 

 of fishes {Zophius), taken at stations 865 and 893. The most south- 

 ern specimens known were taken by Mr. A. Agassiz on the " Blake," 

 off Cape Hatteras, in 263 fathoms. 



Sthenoteuthis megaptera Verriil. 



This volume, p. 223, plate 21, figs. 1-9, Feb., 1880. 



Plate XXI. Plate XXVII, figure 6. Plate XLV, figures 5, 5a. 



Since printing the description of this species, in the first part of 

 this volume, when only two examples were known, some additional 

 specimens have been obtained. 



The most important of these consists of the tentacular club and 

 the pharynx, with the jaws and odontophore complete (Plate XLV, 

 fio-, 5). These are from a specimen, of which the head and arms were 

 found in the mouth of a cod-fish, on the eastern part of George's 

 Bank, by Manuel D. Mitchel, and were by him presented to the U. S. 

 Fish Commission. The portions of the specimen not saved were 

 used as bait for cod. The arms were described as 18 inches long. 



The pai't of the tentacular club in my possession, which does not 

 include the proximal portion, is 175'""' long, 17 broad, in the middle; 

 the distal portion, beyond the large suckers, is 62 long, breadth of 

 its sucker-bearing face, 8 ; from front to back, including width of 

 dorsal keel, but not the suckers, 18 ; diameter of largest suckers, 12, 

 of horny rings, 11 ; of aperture, 8 ; height of horny ring, outer side, 



