SEPIOLA. 217 



warrant the inference drawn by these observers. M. Al- 

 cide D'Orbigny was the first to determine a true and 

 important difference, but likewise committed the error of 

 supposing that all the Atlantic individuals were of one 

 type, and the Mediterranean ones of another. He conse- 

 quently referred all the figures and descriptions of British 

 and Channel Sepiola. to his S. Atlantica (those of Pennant, 

 Bouchard, Gervais and Van Beneden, and Thompson), and 

 those of Mediterranean individuals to S. Rondeletii. It 

 will be seen that we have both these species in the British 

 seas. Owing to the distinctive characters having been 

 entirely overlooked it is impossible now to say which 

 kind was intended by British authors who quote this 

 cuttle-fish under the names of Loligo sepiola, Sepiola vul- 

 garis, and S. Rondeletii. Under these circumstances we 

 think it best to restrict our synonyms and not include 

 doubtful references. 



1. S. Atlantica, D'Orbigny. 



Suckers becoming suddenly four-ranked, crowded, and very 

 minute at the extremities of the lower pair of arms. 



Plate MMM. fig. 2. 



Septula Atlantica, D'Orbig. and Ferus. Ceph. Acet. p. 283, Sepioles, pi. 4, f. 1- 



12.— D'Orbig. Moll. Viv. et Foss. p. 247, pi. 10, f. 1-12. 

 Sepiola vulgaris, Grant, Zool. Trans, vol. i. p. 77, pi. ii. f. 3-13 ? — Gervais 

 and Van Beneden, Bull. Acad. Brux. vol. v. p. 428 ? 

 „ Rondeletii and vulgaris, in part, of British Local Catalogues. 



This, apparently the most common Sepiola of our seas, 

 seldom measures more than an inch in length in the body, 

 and a rather shorter distance from the junction of the 

 head with the body to the extremities of the arms. The 

 body is somewhat bell-shaped, rounded behind, truncated 



VOL. iv. F F 



