SVENSKA EXPEDITIONEN TILL MAGELLANSLÄNDERNA BD II N:0 4. 61 



Cephalopod shegter: Sthenotheuthis og Lestot euthis> 1 he says 



(p. 6) (in translation) as follows »a peculiar structure, 



a layer of lenticular glandulär bodies, vertically arranged on 

 the musculature of the anterior part of the back of the 

 animal» — — -- observed in Omm. p t er opn s Stp, Omm. gigas 

 d'ORBG. (but not in Dosidicus Eschrichtii Stp.) and which I 

 have not seen conspicously developed in the smaller: Omm. 

 Bariramii (Les.), Omm. oualaniensis (Les.) and Omm, pelagicus 

 (Bosc) ■■>. The aeeompanying figures are not so very good, but 

 I do not think that I am much mistaken when I regard these 

 lenticular, glandulär bodies» of Steenstrup to be similar 

 papillse to these in Onychoteuthis ingens because Steenstrit 

 has apparently not studied the details of histological struc- 

 ture of these bodies, so there may be no hindrance in his 

 calling theni »glands». The papillaj of Histiopsis and related 

 forms may also represent similar organs. The Challenger 

 speeimen of this form was dredged from a depth of 2025 fathoms. 

 This structure, although perhaps with modifications, is thus 

 common to several benthopelagic cephalopods but is missing 

 in the littoral forms which do not descend to any great 

 depths, as well as in those that live near the surface. 



Before I leave this question I cannot forbear to say 

 some words about the form described by Joubin 2 under the 

 name »Lepnäoteiithis Grimalclii». Already the thought that a 

 cephalopod should be provided with scales is something very 

 stränge. But Joubin says (1. c. p. 1174) »La surface du sac 

 est recouverte de grosses ecailles rhomboidales, saillantes, 

 imbriquees, solides, et disposees en files spirales montant 

 depuis la pointe jusqu' au bord palleal». And on the same 

 page a few lines below this he continues: »Les ecailles, dont 

 le nombres depasse plusieurs milliers, constituent au Lepi- 

 doteuthis une veritable cuirasse qui donne ä l'animal im aspect 

 etrange, rappelant certains poissons Gano'ides (!) ou la carapace 

 de divers fossiles (!). Aucun autre Cephalopocle ne presente 

 une semblable disposition tegumentaire.» This sounds very 

 peculiar, but one look on the figures that are given ou the 

 preceding page ascertains that the structure in question is of 

 the same kind as that described in Onychoteuthis ingens in 



1 Overs. K. Dansk. Vid. Selsk. Forh. 1881. 



2 Comptes Rendus de l'Ac. -des Sei. T. 121. Paris 1895. < Vphalopodes 

 recueillis daus l'estomac d'un Cachalot, capture aux iles Aeores. 



