A. E. Verrill — Korth American Cephalopods. 317 



LoligO Pealei, var. pallida TerriU. 



Plate XXXIV, figures 1-4. Plate XXXVII, figures 9-11, (suckers). 

 Plate XL, figure 1, (anatomy). 



This geographical variety or sub-species is distinguished from the 

 typical form chiefly by its shorter and stouter body, in both sexes, its 

 broader and larger caudal fin, and the larger size of the suckers, 

 especially those of the tentacular club. 



The caudal fin is broad-rhomboidal, often as broad as long, or even 

 broader than long, in adult specimens. The ratio of the breadth of 

 the fin to the mantle-length, in the larger specimens (with mantle 

 150'""' to 225""" long) is, in the males, from 1 : 1-V5 to 1 : 2*00, while 

 in L. Pealei^ of corresponding size, the ratio is 1 : 2'15 to 1 : 2-30 ; 

 in the females of var. pallida^ of similar size, the ratio varies from 

 1 : r45 to 1 : 1'75 (see tables F, G). Tentacular arms long and 

 slender, varying in length according to the amount of contraction, 

 in extension longer than the body, the club or portion that bears 

 suckers forming about one-third the whole length. In a few males 

 the larger suckers on the middle of this portion are not so large as 

 the largest on the other arms, but usually they are twice as large. In 

 some females the principal suckers of the tentacular arms are very 

 much larger than in others, and considerably exceed those of the 

 males of equal length ; they form two alternating rows, of eight to ten 

 each, along the middle of the club ; external to them there is a row 

 of smaller suckers alternating with them on each side; the suckei's 

 toward the tips are very numerous, small and crowded in four rows ; 

 at the tip there is a group of about twenty minute, smooth-edged 

 suckers, in four rows. Outside of the suckers, on each side, there 

 is a broad marginal membrane, having the edges scalloped and 

 strengthened between the scallops by strong, transverse, muscular 

 ridges ; another membranous fold runs along the back side, expand- 

 ing into a broad membranous keel or crest near the end. The arms 

 of the ventral pair are intermediate in length between those of the 

 second and third pairs. 



Ground-color of the body, head, arms and fins, pale, translucent 

 yellowish white ; the upper surface is covered with pale brown, une- 

 qual, circular spots, wdiich are not crowded, having spaces of whitish 

 between them ; the spots are more sparse on the head and arms, but 

 somewhat clustered above the eyes; entire ventral surface pale, with 

 small, distant, brownish, circular spots, which are nearly obsolete on 

 the siphon and arms. The general appearance of the animal, when 

 fresh, is unusually pale and gelatinous. The pen is broad, quill- 

 shaped, translucent and amber-colored. 



