Hi* WON ATI'S. ONYCIIOTKI THIS. 



K.-iinily IX. OXYCHOTP^UTHIIKK. 



The principal character of this family is the development of 

 hooks upon tho anus, as a means of prehension ; they replace 

 the sucking disks to a greater or less extent, according to the 

 several genera. A few fossil forms occur. 



Genus GONATUS, Gray. 



G. AMCENA, Holier. PI. 73, fig. 2<)0. 



Body cylindrical, tapering, acute behind; tins rhombic, not 



one-third the length of the back. 



Norway ; Greenland . 



Genus ONYCHOTEUTHIS, Liechtenstein. 



These animals are solitary in habit, frequenting the open sea. 

 and especially banks of gulf-weed. Some of the species have an 

 immense geographical distribution ; as 0. Banksii, from the 

 Arctic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope and Indian Ocean. 

 The peculiar arrangement of suckers, forming a circle at the 

 base of each tentacular club, enabling the animal to use the two 

 clubs in conjunction, when necessary, give an immense increase 

 of power. They suggested the obstetric forceps of Professor 

 Simpson. 



O. BANKSII, Leach. PL 73, figs. 291-294. 



Body very elongate, cylindrical, acuminate behind ; head with 

 pos'ero-dorsal, longitudinal, small, prominent ridges; fins rhom- 

 boidal ; sessile arms conic-subulate, winged on the back, unequal, 

 in length 2, 3, 4, 1 ; cups with a fleshy excrescence, compressed, 

 pear-shaped ; tentacles very extensile, the clubs armed with a 

 double series of hooks, of which the outer row is much the 

 largest, with a basal and sometimes an apical group of cups. 

 Shell dark brown, lanceolate, pennate, with a short central keel, 

 thin. Ordinary length of body, 6 inches. 



1 unite a large number of nominal species under this name, 

 the examination of numerous specimens and of the various 

 figures having convinced me that their characters are illusory. 



Distribution nearly universal; collected in all Uie oceans at 



numerous localities, equally in arctic and tropical waters. 



