192 A. M Verrill — JVorth Ameriean Cephalopods. 



residing in Thimble Tickle, not far from the locality where the other 

 devil-fish [No. 19], was cast ashore, was out in a boat with two other 

 men ; not far from the shore they observed some bulky object, and, 

 supposing it might be part of a wreck, they rowed toward it, and, to 

 their horror, found themselves close to a huge fish, having large 

 glassy eyes, which was making desperate efforts to escape, and churn- 

 ing the water into foam by the motion of its immense arms and tail. 

 It was aground and the tide was ebbing. From the funnel at the 

 back of its head it was ejecting large volumes of water, this being its 

 method of moving backward, the force of the stream, by the reaction 

 of the surrounding medium, driving it in the required direction. At 

 times the water from the siphon was black as ink." 



" Finding the monster partially disabled, the fishermen plucked up 

 courage and ventured near enough to throw the grapnel of their 

 boat, the sharp flukes of which, having barbed points, sunk into the 

 soft body. To the grapnel they had attached a stout rope which 

 they had carried ashore and tied to a tree, so as to prevent the fish 

 from going out with the tide. It was a happy thought, for the devil- 

 fish found himself eftectually moored to the shore. His struggles 

 were terrific as he flung his ten arms about in dying agony. The 

 fishermen took care to keep a respectful distance from the long tenta- 

 cles, which ever and anon darted out like great tongues IVom the cen- 

 tral mass. At length it became exhausted, and as the water receded 

 it expired. 



"The fishermen, alas! knowing no better, proceeded to conv-ert it 

 into dog's meat. It was a splendid specimen — the largest yet taken 

 — the body measuring 20 feet from the beak to the extremity of 

 the tail. It was thus exactly double the size of the New York spe- 

 cimen, and five feet longer than the one taken by Budgell. The cir- 

 cumference of the body is not stated, but one of the arms measured 

 35 feet. This must have been a tentacle." 



No. 1 9.— Three Arms specimen, 1 878. {ArcUteuthis prmceps ?.) 



Mr. Harvey has also given an account of this specimen, in the 

 same letter to the Boston Traveller, referred to imder No. 18. This 

 one was found cast ashore after a heavy gale of wind, Dec. 2, 1878, 

 by Mr. William Budgell, a fisherman residing at a place called Three 

 Arms. It was dead when found, and was cut up and used for dog 

 meat. Mr. Harvey's account is as follows: 



"My informant, a very intelligent person, Avho was on a visit in 

 that quarter on business, arrived at Budgell's house soon after he 



