GIG XVl'lc cKIMl. 



presented :in enormous mass, tin- wci^'hi of which has been csli- 

 ni:ilc(| ;ii more thtili -M(MI pounds. l,s fms. situated al the 

 posterior extremity, were rounded in two llcsh\ lobes and of 

 very lai'ii'e si/c. The commander of ; he vessel on pen-emir 

 halted ii)M>ii his eoiirse ;ind made | re| a r:i l ions for CM pt urin - 

 monster. (Jims were charged and harpoons h:isi ii\ prepared ; 

 Imt Mi the lirsi disehni-o-e of 'he lorniei 1 . :he :inini:d dived under 

 ;he ship ;ind iimnedhuely :ii)pe:re(l on ,he o. her side. AU:iekrd 

 i with luirpoons. it dis:ippe:i red I wo or ihree times. ;md. 

 e.-ieh time ihnt it renseended to !he surl:iee. its lon^ :irms 

 wriihed. Tlie ship followed or nrresied its course accordir 

 "he movements of the animal. r riiis chase Insied nioreilinn ihi'ee 

 hours. The eoniiiiander of the Aleeion w:is ile.ermined to 

 rip. lire this new kind of enemy ; neverlheless he did no; d:ire 

 to lower :i l)o;it . for :i single :i I'm of 1 his eeph:dopod would snlliee 

 to overturn it. r riie hnr|)0ons which were Inunciied ;i! ii pene- 

 trated the flabby flesh and <':nne oni without success; SCVCI-M! 



l>:dls <r:i versed it ;dso iinsticcessfnlly. Nevertheless il I'eeeived 

 one of them which ;ippe-ired to wound it Iwdly. criusino- i 

 vomit ;i irrent (piuntity of tVo'hy m:r.ter;ind hlood mixed wi;h 

 viscid mutter which spread :r strong odor of musk. \. w;is ;it 

 ;his ins. :nit tliMt they succeeded in hissoinu' the :mini:d. l>ut the 

 i-ojie slid Mlonii' the ehisiic body until rmvsled l.y the tins. 

 Attenip-.iiiir to liMiil their prize aboard, they had rdrendy r:\ised 

 ;he u'rcMlei- p.- ' :iniiu:d from the water when its enoniKUis 



weiu'hi caused t he rope !o jjenei I'M! e ! he llesh :ind sepnrato the 

 posterior portion of the body which was drawn on hoard, 

 whilst the rest disappeared in the sea. 



The above is condensed from a letter addressed bo M. Moc|iiin 

 Tandon. by M. Sabin IJert hold . consul of France, at the Cana- 

 ries, who saw ilie iVa^nu-iii albnled to, and received Jie relation 

 of the commandant of the \cs^el. One of the ollicers ma<le a 

 sketch of -his animal, which, in conjunction wi;h the description. 



"iiNiilered by M essrs. ( ' rossi- a nd Fisher snllicient ly exa 

 warrant Iheni in determining it to belong lo a new speei. 

 Loliil'0. which they name L. /!<>">/</;. The liii'iire and descrip 

 show biii eiii'lit arms, lui! '.he elongated form of t he body. '. lie 

 propojM ional shor 1 nc<s of ihc arm- and the presence of the > 



