[7] CEPHALOPODS OF NORTHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 217 



Observing some object floating on the water at a short distance, they 

 rowed towards it, supposing it to be a large sail or the debris of a wreck. 

 On reaching it one of the men struck it with his 'gaff,' when immedi- 

 ately it showed signs of life, reared a parrot-like beak, which they de- 

 clare was 'as big as a six-gallon keg,' with which it struck the bottom 

 of the boat violently. It then shot out from about its head two huge 

 livid arms and began to twine them round the boat. One of the men 

 seized a small ax and severed both arms as they lay over the gunwale 

 of the boat; whereupon the fish moved off and ejected an immense quan- 

 tity of inky fluid, which darkened the water for two or three hundred 

 yards. The men saw it for a short time afterwards, and observed its 

 tail in the air, which they declare was 10 feet across. They estimate 

 the body to have been GO feet in length, 5 feet in diameter, of the same 

 shape and color as the common squid, and they observed that it moved 

 in the same way as the squid, both backwards and forwards. 



"One of the arms which they brought ashore was unfortunately de- 

 stroyed, as they were ignorant of its importance; but the clergyman of 

 the village assures me it was 10 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length. 

 The other arm was brought to Saint John's, but not before 6 feet of it 

 were destroyed. Fortunately, I heard of it and took measures to have 

 it preserved. Mr. Murray, of the geological survey, and I afterwards 

 examined it carefully, had it photographed, and immersed in alcohol; it 

 is now in our museum. It measured 19 feet, is of a pale, pink color, en- 

 tirely cartilaginous, tough and pliant as leather, and very strong." 



No. 3. — Coombs' Cove specimen, 1872. (Arehitciithis Harveyi 9 ?) 



Another specimen (No. 3), probably considerably larger than the last, 

 was captured at Coombs' Cove, Fortune Bay, Newfoundland. The fol- 

 lowing account has been taken from a newspaper article, of which I do 

 not know the precise date,* forwarded to me by Professor Baird, to- 

 gether with a letter, dated June 15, 1873, from the Hon. T. E. Bennett, 

 of English Harbor, Newfoundland, who states that he wrote the article, 

 and that the measurements were made by him, and are perfectly re- 

 liable :t 



" Three days ago there was quite a large squid run almost ashore at 

 Coombs' Cove, and some of the inhabitants secured it. The body meas- 

 ured 10 feet in length and was nearly as large round as a hogshead. 

 One arm was about the size of a man's wrist, and measured 12 feet in 

 length ; the other arms were only feet in length, but about 9 inches 

 in diameter, very stout and strong. The skin and flesh were 2.25 inches 



* The exact date of this capture I do not know, hut it was prohably iu tho autumn 

 or winter of 1672. 



t Through Mr. Sanderson Smith, who visited Mr. Bennett after the publication of 

 my first article, I learn that this specimen is the same as the one designated as Xo. 6 

 in my early papers, and that the measurements of No. 6, as given to me by Mr. Har- 

 vey, are incorrect, owing to his mistake in supposing that 42 feet was the total length, 

 instead of the length of the longer tentacular arm. 



