330 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [120] 



no perfect specimen of the latter, with the corresponding arms present, 

 has been described. It appears to'differ from the tentacular arm of C. 

 Veranyi D'Orb., which is the only other species sufficiently described to 

 be recognized as belonging to this genus. 



Family HISTIOTEUTHIDJB, now 



Loligopsidw (pars) D'Orbig., C6phal. Acetab., p. 320, 1835-1848. 

 Chiroteuthidce (pars) Gray, Catal. Brit. Mus., Moll., vol. i, p. 42, 1849. 



Body small, short, with caudal fins. Mantle united to the neck by three 

 movable cartilages. Siphon with neither dorsal bridle nor internal 

 valve. Head large. Kuchal crests absent. Eyes large, not prominent ; 

 bids free and simple; no sinus. Buccal membrane with six smooth 

 lobes ; buccal aquiferous openings four. Two brachial openings at 

 the bases of the tentacular arms. Six upper arms united by a very 

 broad web ; suckers in two rows : rings convex, with small, oblique 

 apertures. Tentacular arms long, with a well-developed club, bearing 

 large central and small marginal suckers ; proximal part of club with 

 connective suckers and tubercles. Pen broad, short, lanceolate, much 

 like that of Loligo. 



Histioteuthis D'Orbigny, 1839. 



Histioteuthia Ferussac & D'Orbigny, Histoire Naturelle des C6phalopodes Acdtabuli- 

 feres, p. 226. 

 Gray, Catal. British Mus., Moll., vol. i, p. 34, 1849 (description after D'Or- 

 bigny). 



This genus is remarkable for having the six upper sessile arms united 

 together nearly to their tips by a thin, elastic membrane or web. The 

 ventral arms are also united together for a part of their length, and their 

 common web is joined to the great web, in the median line, by a bridle- 

 like membrane. The tentacular arms are very long, and have expanded 

 clubs, with a broad dorsal keel. As in Architeuthis and Sthenoteuthis, 

 they are furnished with a series of small smooth-rimmed suckers, alter 

 nating with tubercles, on the proximal part of the club and adjacent part 

 of the arm, for the purpose of uniting the arms together at will ; but in the 

 following species a row of such suckers and tubercles also extends along 

 one side of the club, opposite part of the large central suckers. The 

 large suckers are serrated, and alternate in two rows ; two rows of large 

 marginal suckers exist on one side and two rows of much smaller ones 

 on the other. At the extreme tip of the arm there is a cluster of small 

 smooth-edged suckers, as in Ommastrephes, Architeuthis, &c. 



The mouth is surrounded by a broad buccal membrane, with six 

 angles or lobes, but without suckers. The body is relatively short, with 

 short, bilobed caudal fins. The eyes are large, and have distinct lids. 

 The dorsal bone or pen is thin, short, lanceolate, and somewhat quill- 

 shaped, with a long blade. 



