[59] CEPHALOPODS OF NORTHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 269 



belongs. But from his description of the two forms of snckers, it is 

 probably one of the lateral arms, if it is in this respect like our young 

 A. Harvey i (No. 24). It evidently belongs to an Architeuthis, and is 

 very near to our A. princeps. 



In the Zoologist, London, 2d series, No. 118, p. 4520, July, 1875, there 

 is an article entitled "Notice of a gigantic Cephalopod (Dinoteuthis 

 proboscideus), which was stranded at Dingle, in Kerry, two hundred 

 years ago. By A. G-. More, F. L. S." The article is chiefly a reprint of 

 the rude but interesting popular accounts written at the time of the 

 capture, and upon these Mr. More proposed to found a new genus and 

 species. The character which he mainly relied upon, as of generic value, 

 is the power of projecting the beak in the form of a proboscis. But this 

 is habitually done by the various common species of Ommastrephes, Lo- 

 Vigo, &c, and perhaps by all ten-armed Cephalopods. There is not suf- 

 ficient evidence, from the published accounts, that this specimen differed 

 in any way from the Architeuthis monachus. It was described as 19 feet 

 in total leugth; the long arms having been mutilated, the part remain- 

 ing was 11 feet long, and as thick as a man's arm; the short arms varied 

 from to 8 feet in length, and were as thick as a man's leg, and had two 

 rows of large serrated suckers ; the proboscis (buccal mass with beak) 

 was the size of a man's fist; the beak was " somewhat like to an Eagle's 

 Bill, but broader." The whole animal was said to have been as large as 

 a large horse. The length of the head and body together was 8 feet. 



Mr. More has kindly sent me a tracing from the original figure. This 

 shows a broad, oval, flat body, and a small caudal fin. The body or 

 mantle had evidently been split open and spread out flat. 



This fact is also evident from the original descriptions, reprinted by 

 Mr. More, in which the sides of the mantle are described as follows: 

 "Over this Monster's back was a mantle of a bright Bed Color, with a 

 fringe round it; it hung down on both sides like a Carpet on a table, 

 falling back on each side, and faced with white." The liver, according 

 to the descriptions, had been removed: "When it was dead and opened 

 the liver wayed 30 pound." The proboscis had also been removed be- 

 fore it was exhibited, and it is therefore very probable that the figure 

 and descriptions represent it as more extended than was natural. 



The measurements given indicate a specimen smaller than several of 

 the American examples, and but little if any larger than our No. 5, from 

 Logie Bay. 



The more important of these ancient letters are here reproduced : 



"Letter No. 2, from Thomas Hooke (Dublin) to Mr. John Wickins (Lon- 

 don) December 23, 1073. 



" LoviNGr Friend : I send you this onely pursuant to my former of the 

 Fish, which I now confirm to be as I gave you the first Account with 

 this addition of certainty, that knowing the man by name James Stew- 

 ard, and hearing two or three nights since of his being at a Printers 



