

NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 



273 



Fia. 109. — Promachoteuthis megaplera, n. gen. 

 et sp. ; natural size. 



fitted for raptorial purposes ; but, on the other hand, the large circumoral lip would seem 

 well suited for collecting nutritive matters from an oozy bottom. 



" A new genus has also been erected for the reception of another interesting Decapod, 

 Promachoteuthis megaptera, which has a rounded body not much longer than the head ; two 

 large fins are attached to the body for fully half its length, and united with each other to 

 some extent behind it, their combined breadth exceeding the length of the body. The head 

 is small, as are also the eyes, which are scarcely at all prominent. The longest (lateral) 

 arms are slightly longer than the body, and bear two 

 rows of globular suckers, with lateral apertures, 

 recalling those of Sepiola and Rossia. The tentacles 

 have unfortunately lost their extremities ; but they 

 are very stout, and about half as long again as the 

 arms (see fig. 109). The single specimen comes from 

 Station 237 (North Pacific), perhaps from 1875 

 fathoms, but more probably from the surface. 



■ " A rare, if not new, form was dredged on the 

 Hyalonema- ground south of Japan, in 345 fathoms 

 (Station 232) ; it is generically, if not specifically, 

 identical with Calliteuthis reversa, Verrill, hitherto known only from the eastern coast 

 of North America, of which Loligopsis ocellata, Owen, is possibly only' a synonym. 



" A type somewhat allied to this, and apparently intermediate between it and the 

 genus Histioteuthis, was obtained in the South Atlantic (Station 333) ; the web is very 

 small in comparison with that of this genus, not extending quite half way to the tips of 

 the arms. In the present state of our knowledge it seems impossible to refer this form 

 to any type hitherto described, and the name Histiopsis atlantica is therefore given to 

 it, although it is possible that other Cephalopods will be discovered which will bring it 

 into closer relation with known forms. 



" Among the Challenger collection is also one mutilated individual of Taonius hyper- 

 boreus, Stp., a genus hitherto known only from examples in the Copenhagen Museum j 1 

 there are also two medium sized specimens and a small one which appear to be referable to 

 the same genus. It is remarkable that many of the most interesting specimens are mere 

 fragments ; among others may be mentioned part of a tentacle of Mastigoteuthis agassizii, 

 Verrill, which was found adhering to the dredge rope, and numerous pieces of a long 

 gelatinous pen, taken from the stomach of a shark ; these latter seem to resemble 

 nothing hitherto known so nearly as the pen of Chiroteuthis lacertosa, Verrill, 2 though 

 if this determination be correct that species must sometimes attain a length of several feet. 



1 The specimen which Verrill figures (Trans. Conned. Acad., vol. v. p. 302, pi. xxvii. figs. 1, 2, 1882) is certainly 

 not Taonius hyperboreus, Stp.; I hope elsewhere to adduce arguments for believing it to be Taonius pavo (Les.). 

 - Ibid., p. 408, pi. lvi. figs. 1 a, a', a", 1881. 



(XARE. CHALL. EXP. — VOL. I. 1884.) 35 



