MAXACOZOA. CEPHALOPODA. SEPIINA. SEPIOLA. 27 



the third pair largest, and equal in length to the se- 

 cond pair. Body semioviforni or globose, with two sub- 

 dorsal, semicircular, thin natatory appendages ; mantle 

 continuous behind with the skin of the head. 



1. Sepiola Rondeletii. Common Sepiole. 



Body, or visceral sac, short, somewhat flattened, semiovate, 

 much rounded at the end; with two subdorsal, thin flaps or 

 fins, of a nearly circular form, and curved forward ; their 

 narrowed base longitudinal, and occupying the middle third 

 of the body. The surface is even, of a whitish colour, covered 

 all over with numerous discrete, roundish, reddish-brown spots 

 and dots, which are slightly elevated ; the ventral surface paler, 

 with fewer spots, especially along the middle ; the fin-flaps 

 white anteriorly, pale behind, with few dots. The margin of 

 tbe sac or mantle is free, unless at the back, where it is con- 

 tinuous with tbe skin of the bead ; its edge reddish-white, with 

 a slight groove on each side. The infundibulum is considerably 

 flattened, tapering, obtuse, and extends to the base of the arms. 

 The head, including the eyes, is nearly as broad as tbe body. 

 The eyes are very large, with a somewhat prominent fold 

 beneath, resembling a rudimentary eyelid. Tbe head is 

 crowned with a circle of large fleshy, tapering, subtrigonal 

 arms. The four upper or dorsal arms are much more slender 

 tban tbe four inferior or ventral. The two middle dorsal are a 

 little shorter, but thicker, tban tbose of tbe second pair, or 

 lateral dorsal. The tbird pair or lateral ventral are very thick, 

 and rather longer tban the second pair. The fourth pair, or 

 tbe two ventral arms, are more slender, and a little shorter. 

 These two medial ventral arms have at tbeir base internally a 



Erominent smooth space, and for more than two-tbirds of tbeir 

 ;ngth are furnished with two irregular series of obtuse promi- 

 nent tubercles or suckers. These arms are close together, 

 but separated, at tbeir base. They are connected with the 

 next pair by a delicate membrane, extending to about a fourth 

 of tbeir length, These next, or lateral ventral arms, which are 

 tbe largest, bave also a bare space at tbe base, and are furnished 

 witb two series of suckers. Tbe two upper or dorsal pairs, 

 which are more* slender, have tbe suckers almost uniserial, or 

 rather irregularly and alternately disposed in two close series. 

 Tbe horny disks are small, with entire margin. On one of tbe 

 upper arms tbe prominences are very irregular, and some of 

 them abnormously developed. Two very long, slender, cy- 



