[189] CEPHALOPODS OF NOETHEASTERN COAST OF AMERICA. 399 



was used as an organ of locomotion, as well as the siphon ; the web and 

 the arms were alternately spread and closed, the closing - being- done 

 energetically and coincidently with the ejection of the water from the 

 siphon, and the arms, after each contraction, were all held pointing 

 straight forward in a compact bundle, so as to afford the least resistance 

 to the motion (Plate XLI, fig. 2). As the motion resulting from each 

 impulse began to diminish sensibly, the arms were again spread and the 

 same actions repeated. This action of the arms and web recalled that 

 of the disk of the jelly-fishes, but it was much more energetic. 



The siphon was bent in different directions to alter the direction of 

 the motions, and by bending it to the right or left side, backward mo- 

 tions in oblique or circular directions were given, but it was often bent 

 directly downward and curved backward, so that the jet of water from 

 it served to propel the animal directly forward. This, so far as ob- 

 served, was its only mode of moving forward. The same mode of swim- 

 ming forward has previously been observed in cuttle-fishes (Sepia) and 

 in squids (Loligo). 



This species was much more active and animated in the night than 

 during the day. It is probably largely nocturnal in its habits, when at 

 liberty. None of the specimens could be induced to take food, and 

 none survived more than four or five days, although the water was fre- 

 quently renewed to keep it cool and pure. They had been rather roughly 

 handled by the dredges and trawls, without doubt; but the unavoid- 

 able exposure to the higher temperature of the water, near and at the 

 surface, especially in summer, is sufficient to kill many of the deep-water 

 animals, while others that live for a short time never entirely recover 

 from the injury thus received. 



Octopus Bairdii. — Specimens examined. 



No. 



Locality. 



Fath- 

 oms. 



Bottom. 



When 

 collected. 



Specimens. 



32 

 32 

 45 



85-86 



130 

 138 

 156 

 161 

 163 

 164 

 182 

 184 

 199 

 207 

 211 

 213 



United States Fish Commission. 



Bay of Fundy 



do 



do 



Off Grand Menan Island. 

 Casco Bay 



Gvflf of Maine. 

 do 



Off Cape Sable. 

 Off Halifax.... 



Oulf of Maine and Massachusetts 

 Bay. 



Off Gloucester, Mass. 



Off Cape Ann 



do 



do 



do 



do 



South of Cape Ann . ... 

 Off Gloucester, Mass 



Off Cape Ann 



Off Gloucester, Mass 



Off Cape Ann 



do 



75 

 80 

 60 

 97-110 

 64 



90 



90 



91 



101 



Gravel . 



Mud 



...do 



Fine sand. 

 ...do 



Mud 



Muddy . . . 



Mud 



Sand 



Fine sand. 

 ...do 



Muddy . . 



Mud 



Soft mud 

 Mud ..... 

 ....do.... 



Number and sex. 

 1872 1 d": 1 j. cT: lj-9 

 1872 11. cf 

 1872 1 d 



1872 1 j. tf 



1873 I 1 med. 

 , 1877 t 



Aug. 14 lLcf (flg'd). 

 Aug. 14 I 2 1. cf : 2 m. cT 

 Aug. 21 11. d":4j. d":4j.? 

 Sept. 6 I 4 d : 4 ? 



1878. 



July 23 1 d 



July 29 1 j. d ■■ 2 1. d ■ 2 ? 



Aug. 15 lj. 



Aug. 16 11. d 1 : lj. d" : lj-9 



Aug. 16 5j. d: 31. d: 1 j-9 



Aug. 16 2d = 3j. d: 21.?: 3j.$ 



Aug. 29 4j.$ 



Aug. 29 3j.?:lj.d 



Sept. 2 lj.tf :21.tf:ll-?:2j.$ 



Sept. 16 lj. d 



Sept. 17 4j. d:2j?:l$ 



Sept. 17 1 1. d 



