[187] CEPHALOPODS OF NORTHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 397 



IS"™; length of modified portion of third right arm, 18 mm ; breadth of 

 this organ, when expanded, 11.5 mm . Subsequently, considerably larger 

 specimens, both male and female, have been taken. 



One of the largest males (station 878) measures, from tip of dorsal arms 

 to end of body, 163 mm ; from edge of dorsal web to end of body, 75 mm ; 

 from edge of mantle beneath, to end of body, 38 mm ; breadth of body. 

 48 mm ; of head, 4r jum ; length of dorsal arms, to beak, 110 mm ; of second 

 pair, 112 mm : of third pair, 115 mm ; of fourth pair, 110 mm ; of hectocotyl- 

 ized arm, 85 mm ; length of terminal spoon, 33 mm ; its breadth, 17 mm . 

 This specimen has 13 transverse lamellae in the spoon. 



One of the largest females (station 895) taken in the breeding season 

 and filled with eggs, in alcohol, measures, from tip of dorsal arms to end 

 of body, 170 mm ; edge of dorsal web to end of body, 90 mm ; mantle, be- 

 neath, 46 mm ; breadth of body, 55 mm ; of head, 41 mm ; length of dorsal 

 arms, from beak, 125 mm ; of secoud pair, 120 mm ; of third pair, 115 mm ; of 

 fourth pair, 115 mm . 



When living, the ground-color was usually pale, translucent, bluish 

 white above, thickly specked with light orange-brown and dark purplish 

 brown. Its colors were changeable, but apparently less actively so than 

 in the squids. 



This species was first discovered by the writer while dredging, in 

 1872, on the United States Steamer "Mosswood", in the Bay of Fundy. 

 off Eastport, Me., in 75 to 80 fathoms. Although so recently discovered, 

 it proves to have a very extensive range, both geographically and in 

 depth. It is one of the most common and characteristic inhabitants of 

 the bottom, in 100 to 500 fathoms, along our entire coast, from South 

 Carolina to Newfoundland. It was taken in the trawl, by the U. S. 

 Fish Commission, in 1872, 1873, 1874, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, and 1881, in 

 depths ranging from 50 to 500 fathoms, at numerous localities, from off 

 Halifax, N. S., and the Bay of Fundy, to the region 90 to 100 miles 

 south of Martha's Vineyard and Newport, B. I., where it is common and 

 of large size. It was obtained by Mr. A. Agassiz, on the '"Blake", in 

 1880, at various stations, from N. lat. 41° 34' 30", to 32° 43' 25", in 178 

 to 524 fathoms. 



In November, 1880, it was taken by Lieut. Z. L. Tanner, on the "Fish 

 Hawk", off the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, in 157 to 300 fathoms. 



The Gloucester fishermen have brought in several specimens from the 

 banks off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. These were presented by 

 Captain Murphey and crew, of the schooner "Alice M. Williams" (lots 

 372, 501, 917); by Capt. J. W. Collins and crew, of the "Marion" (lot 

 264); by Capt. J. F. Critchett and crew, of the "Commonwealth" (lot 

 421); by Mr. E. Perkins, of the "Grace L. Fears" (lot 351); by Mr. 

 Robert Hurlburt, of the " Barracouta " (lot 605) ; by Capt. Thomas Olsen 

 and crew, of the "Epes Tarr" (lot 771); and by Capt. J McDonald 

 raid crew, of the "G. P. Whitman" (lot 792). 



