26 CALIFORXIA FISH AND GAME 



distribution, being found on the coasts of China and Japan as well as 

 on our coast from Alaska to San Diego. It is an abundant shore form 

 and reaches a lengtli of 16 feet and a weight of 90 pqunds. The usual 

 weiglit of specimens landed at Monterey is 20 to 30 pounds. 



The body is short and almost globular, and the arms are stout and 

 very long. The liead is rather small, being separated from the body 

 by a slight constriction. Fairly prominent eyes are located on the 

 top sides of the head. The funnel is long and conical, terminating as 

 usual along the right side of the head. The suckers are largest where 

 the arms join tlie umbrella, diminisliing rapidly in size near the tips of 

 the arms. The surface of the body is somewhat tuberculated, and the 

 color is milky whitisli or translucent grayish, the outer surface being 

 overlaid with blackish, brownish or purplish dots. 



Polypus himaculatus. — This is the two-spotted octopus, the com- 

 mon shore octopus of southern California. Purplish ocular spots in 

 front of the eyes are a distinguishing feature. The spots are large, 

 round and decidedly darker than the rest of the animal. The body 

 and arms are similar to those of P. kongkongetisis. Numerous warty 

 papillae cover the surface of the body, varying from a nearly smooth 

 state to very rugose. A large conical, warty projection is present just 

 over each eye. 



The distribution of this octopus might be said to start where the 

 big octopus leaves off. It is found from San Pedro southward to 

 Panama. It is taken mainly from tide pools at low tide. Large speci- 

 mens measure about 20 inches in length. 



Polypus calif ornicus. — Only a few specimens of this species have 

 been reported and these were taken off San Diego. The body is of 

 moderate size, short, rounded and compact. The arms are stout and 

 moderately long, the basal portions being about one-fourth webbed. 

 The main distinguishing features are the numerous large star-like 

 papillae that cover the surface of the body, becoming nearly obsolete 

 ventrally. Also, above each eye is a rounded flattened tubercle, slightly 

 larger than the rest. 



Polypus r;ilherfiavus. — This sp(H'ies is also rather uncommon and 

 is reported only from southern California. The body is of moderate 

 size and is a little broader than long. The surface is covered every- 

 where with numerous minute, rough papillae, giving the skin a some- 

 what grainy texture. A large softened, flattened, blunt tubercle is 

 present above and slightly behind the center of each eye. The eyes 

 are somewhat lai-ge and rather protruding. The funnel is broad at the 

 base, tapering to nearly cylindrical at the extremity. Arms are rather 

 long and slender, being webbed liy the strong umbrella for about one- 

 fourth of theii- length, the membrane continuing from the umbrella 

 to nearly the tips of the arms. 



Elodonella hcathi. — This is anollu r uncommon octopus from south- 

 ern California waters. The body is of moderate size and the skin is 

 smooth in conlrnst to the four forms just described. The arms are 

 slender, the third pair being much the longer ; suckers in a single row ; 

 umbrella extending to about one-third of arms. The head is short, 

 broad and greatly compres.sed above and below, and is well separated 



