OCTOPODIDAE 



395 



slightly swollen heads. They are of a peculiar milky white colour. The spermatophores 

 of B. januarii are much thicker and have swollen heads. 

 The colour in all the specimens is a pale fawn-pink. 



Remarks. This very interesting form has given me a good deal of trouble, and I am 

 still undecided as to whether it is a distinct species or a form of one of the South 

 American or sub-Antarctic species. It seems to have distinct affinities with B. januarii 

 {s.s.) and B. magellanicus (Robson, 1930a, p. 332), and some likeness to B. eureka. For 

 the time being, and until the work I have on hand upon the genus is completed, I 

 think it better to give this a non-committal description. The following list exhibits 

 the differences from the more closely related forms : 



(i) It differs from B. januarii in {a) arm-length, (b) web depth, [c) form and size of 

 hectocotylus, {d) size of gills, (e) spermatophores. The general facies (smooth rounded 

 body and large eyes, and radula) are points in common. 



(2) It differs from B. magellanicus in {a) funnel-organ, {b) colour, (c) hectocotylus. 

 The sculpture (if any) of B. magellanicus is not properly known. 



(3) It differs from B. eureka in {a) form of penis, {b) appendix, [c) radula, 

 {d) colour. 



I should point out that the other members of the Octopodidae reported from 

 Magellanic waters are either referable to Joubinia or Enteroctopus and cannot be identified 

 with this form for many reasons. Hoyle's "Polypus brucei" from the Burdwood Bank 

 (1912) is a form of Gould's E. megalocyathus with which also Lonnberg's O . patagonicus 

 is synonymous. 



Benthoctopus magellanicus, Robson. 



St. WS 97. 18. iv. 27. 49° 00' 30" S, 61° 58' 00" W. 146-145 m., sand, gravel and stones. 

 Commercial otter trawl : one ?. 



This species was distinguished byme (19300, p. 332) from B. eureka by certain features 

 that still seem to me important. It is a little unfortunate that the female of the nearly- 

 allied B. eureka is unknown, and also that there is as yet no comparable material of the 

 funnel-organ which, in the Paris specimen (?) originally labelled "O hyadesi" (see 

 Robson, I.e., p. 330), is so characteristic. 



The following table and data will show that this specimen, which measures 385 mm. 

 over all, is probably more like B. magellanicus: 



