364 SEA MONSTERS UNMASKED. 



In a manuscript by Paulsen (referred to by Professor 

 Steenstrup, at a meeting of Scandinavian naturalists at 

 Copenhagen in 1847) ls a description of a large calamary, 

 cast ashore on the coast of Zeeland, which the latter named 

 Architeuthis monachus. Its body measured 21 feet, and its 

 tentacles 18 feet, making a total of 39 feet. 



In 1854 another was. stranded at the Skag in Jutland, 

 which Professor Steenstrup believed to belong to the same 

 genus as the preceding, but to be of a different species, and 

 called it Architeuthis dux. The body was cut in pieces by 

 the fishermen for bait, and furnished many wheelbarrow 

 loads. Mr. Gwyn Jeffreys * says Dr. Morch informed him 

 that the beak of this animal was nine inches long. He adds 

 that another huge cephalopod was stranded in 1860 or 

 1 86-1, between Hillswick and Scalloway, on the west of 

 Shetland. From a communication received by Professor 

 Allman, it appears that its tentacles were 16 feet long, the 

 pedal arms about half that length, and the mantle sac 7 

 feet. The largest suckers examined by Professor Allman 

 were three-quarters of an inch in diameter. 



We have also the statement of the officers and crew of 

 the French despatch steamer, Alecton, commanded by Lieu- 

 tenant Bouyer, describing their having met with a great 

 calamary on the 3Oth of November, 1861, between Madeira 

 and Teneriffe. It was seen about noon on that day floating 

 on the surface of the water, and the vessel was stopped with 

 a view to its capture. Many bullets were aimed at it, but 

 they passed through its soft flesh without doing it much 

 injury, until at length "the waves were observed to be 

 covered with foam and blood." It had probably dis- 

 charged the contents of its ink-bag ; for a strong odour of 

 musk immediately became perceptible a perfume which I 

 * ' British Conchology,' vol. v., p. 124. 



