[163] CEPHALOPODS OF NORTHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 3 7 o 



The color is peculiar: it consists, on the body, in alcoholic specimens, 

 of dark purplish chroinatophores, everywhere pretty uniformly and 

 regularly scattered, on a pale ground-color. When expanded these 

 chromatophores are large and round ; above the eyes they are so closely 

 crowded as to form dark blotches ; they also cover the outer surface of 

 all the arms ; underside of caudal fin white. 



In alcohol, a medium-sized specimen measures from tip of tail to base 

 of dorsal arms, 80 mm ; total length of mantle, 71 mm ; breadth of body, 

 22mm. breadth of caudal fin,52 mra ; length of fin, 39 mm ; length of dorsal 

 arms, from base, 17 mm ; of second pair, 23 mm ; of third pair, 31 mm ; of 

 ventral arms 31 mm ; of tentacular arms, 4G mm ; of club, 22 mm . 



A larger female specimen, from Charlotte Harbor, Florida, measured, 

 in length of mantle, 130 mm ; diameter of body, 36 mm ; length of dorsal 

 arms, 45 mm ; of second pair, 55 mm ; of third pair, 65 mm ; of tentacular 

 arms, 145 mm . 



This species appears to have an extensive distribution along the 

 warmer parts of the Atlantic coasts of America. It was originally 

 described by Blainville as from Brazil. D'Orbtgny records it from Bio 

 Janeiro. It ranges northward to Delaware Bay. It is common on our 

 southern coasts, from South Carolina to Florida, and I have seen speci- 

 mens from Mobile Bay, Alabama, and from Louisiana. 



Loligo orevis. — Specimens examined. 



SEPIOTEUTHIS Blainv., 1823. 



This genus closely resembles Loligo, in external characters. It is 

 distinguished chiefly by having the fins extending nearly the whole 

 length of the mantle. The body is stout and depressed, somewhat as 

 in Sepia. The pen is thin and horny, lanceolate, nearly as in Loligo, 

 but is often thickened near*the margins. 



There are, however, important differences in the visceral anatomy. 

 The eggs are much larger and fewer than in Loligo, and the ovary is 

 short and broad, at the posterior end of the body. 



Sepioteuthis sepioidea D'Orb. 



Loligo sepioidea Blainville, Diet. Sci. Nat., xsvii, p. 146, 1823. 

 Sepioteuthis triangulata Rang, Mag. de Zc-ol., p. 73, pi. 98, 1837 (t. D'Orbignv). 

 Sepioteuthis sepioidea D'Orbigny, C6ph. Ac6tab., p. 298, Sepioteuthes, pi. 7, figs. 

 6-11 ; Hist. Tile de Cuba, Moll., p. 34, 1853. 



