[171] CEPHALOPODS OF NORTHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 381 



Young specimens, with the mantle less than 12 mm in length, can 

 scarcely be distinguished sexually, by external characters. Such speci- 

 mens are not easily distinguished from the young of Rossia Hyatti, of 

 similar size. 



One of the original specimens ( 9 ) measured, from the base of the arms 

 to the end of the body, 46 mm ; length of body, 31 ; of head, 15 ; breadth of 

 body, 22; of head, 23; length of fins, 20; of their insertion, 16; breadth 

 of fins, 10; front edge of fin to edge of mantle, 2.5; length of free portion 

 of dorsal arms, 16; of second pair, 17; of third pair, 20; of ventrals, 15; 

 of tentacular arms, 25; breadth of dorsal arms at base, 3; of second 

 pair, 3; of third, 3.5; of ventrals, 3.5; of tentacular arms, 3.5; of the 

 terminal portion, 3.75; its length, 10; diameter of largest suckers of 

 sessile arms, .8; length of free portion of siphon, 7 mm . 



The pen is but little developed, small and thin, much shorter than the 

 mantle. The shaft is narrow; the blade increases in breadth rather 

 abruptly, and is somewhat shorter than the shaft ; its posterior portion 

 is very thin, with the edge ill-defined. 



One of the specimens (No. 16), taken by Mr. Agassiz in 257 fathoms, 

 is a young female differing somewhat from the others in having the 

 arms shorter, with the suckers more crowded, so that they apparently 

 form more than two rows. Possibly this should be referred to B. Ryatti 

 Yerrill. Its back is smooth. All three specimens from this same region 

 differ somewhat from those taken farther north, in shallower water, in 

 naving larger eyes and shorter and stouter arms. 



This has been taken by the dredging parties of the TJ. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, in the trawl-net, at various localities, in 1877, 1878, and 1879, 

 in 45 to 110 fathoms, off Massachusetts Bay, in Massachusetts Bay, off 

 Cape Cod, off Cape Sable, N. S., and off Halifax. It has been brought 

 in by the fishermen of Gloucester, Mass., from the banks off Nova Sco- 

 tia and Newfoundland. It was also trawled in some numbers, and of 

 both sexes, by the U. S. Fish Commission, on the "Fish Hawk," in 1880, 

 off Newport, E. I., in 155 to 365 fathoms; and in November, 1880, by 

 Lieut. Z. L. Tanner, on the " Fish Hawk," off the mouth of Chesapeake 

 Bay, in 157 fathoms ; and by Mr. Agassiz, on the " Blake," in 233-260 

 fathoms, and as far south as lat. 32° 33' 15". It has also been dredged, 

 in 1881, by the U. S. Fish Commission, at several stations, about 100 miles 

 southward of Martha's Vineyard, in 160-458 fathoms (fifty-two speci- 

 mens). The eggs, which are like those of B. Ryatti, were taken at 

 895, 897, 939, 1033. 



This species very closely resembles the Bossi-a glaucopis Loven, of 

 Northern Europe, as figured by G. O. Sars. The latter is> however, 

 more papillose, and has smaller eyes and head, if correctly figured. 

 Some of the specim ms taken this year resemble Sar's figure more than 

 any of those previously observed. It is possible, therefore, that a larger 

 series of European specimens would show that they are of the same 

 species. 



