CKICK : ox PLESIOTEUTHIS PRISCA. 315 



mass, but their distal ends are not definitely indicated. Each of these 

 flattened areas bears two distinct bands of a reddish-brown colour, 

 averaging about I mm. wide, their edges being usually more distinct 

 than the rest of the band, the inner of the two bands being the 

 larger on each side ; that (tlie longer one) on the right can be traced 

 for about 100 mm. from the centre of the buccal mass. It would 

 seem, therefore, that each of these elongated flattened areas represents 

 two arms, that {di , dr^ nearer the median line being the longer of 

 the two, and extending from the buccal mass to the point of super- 

 position with its fellow. Further, the longer arm [di, d^) appears to 

 rest upon the shorter {c^, c''), since, on the right side, the shorter band 

 of colour ends abruptly at a very slightly elevated ridge formed by 

 the outer edge of the longer arm, whilst on the other side the colour 

 band of the corresponding arm disappears before the band on the 

 larger arm. Outside these arms, on a level with the buccal mass 

 and about 26 mm. apart, arise two arms (i^, b^), each about 

 4 mm. wide, diverging at about an angle of 40°, that extend 

 in an almost straight line for about 30 mm., and then curve 

 gejitly outwards, extending for about another 30 mm. These 

 appear to have been more cylindrical than the arms marked 

 b and c, and their surface appears to have been rougher. Further, 

 connecting these and the arms marked c, there appears to have been 

 a membrane, the outward margins of which seem to be indicated on 

 each side of the animal by an obscure forwardly-concave curve at 

 about 54 mm. in advance of the centre of the buccal mass. Anterior 

 to this curved line the surface of the stone is somewhat rougher, 

 indicating that the membrane (if such there was) was comparatively 

 smooth. The order of these appendages seems to have been (com- 

 mencing on the ventral side) a, b, c, d, and if none of these represent 

 the tentacles in living Cephalopods, then the order of the arms 

 (counting from the ventral side) would be a, b, c, d=\, 2, 3, 4 

 respectively. Tliere are no traces of booklets on or about any of the 

 arms, a fact which was mentioned by Zittel (7, p. 519); nor are 

 there any structures which can be definitely recognized as suckers, 

 though each probably did exist. 



Within the two thickened arms there is on the right side 

 a thickening (>«) about 7 mm. wide, which, passing under the stout 

 arm on the right side, curves over to the right, and can be traced for 

 a further distance of about 27 mm., when it abruptly ends. There is 

 a similarly placed but more obscure thickening on the left side. 

 "Whether these represent the tentacles or whether, in fact, they had 

 anything to do with the animal, is quite uncertain. 



Diffused over the head, the anterior portion, and the posterior part 

 of the body there is a reddish -brown hue, similar to the bands of 

 colour on some of the arms, that, it is suggested, may have been derived 

 from the colour of the animal. Theie is a similar colour, more 

 intensified, however, on the matrix immediately adjacent to each side 

 of the animal, that may have had the same derivation. 



The form of the gladius (or pen) is well shown, chiefly as the 

 impression of its ventral surface, only a few fragments of the actual 



