336 A. E. Verrill — JVbrth American Cephalopods. 



K. — Specimens examined. Eggs and recently hatched young of Loligo Pealei. 



In the Gulf of Mexico, this species appears to be replaced by 

 another species {Loligo Gahl D'Orbigny). Of this we have several 

 specimens, collected on the west coast of Florida, at Egmont Key, 

 near Tampa Bay, by Col. E. Jewett and Mr. W. T. Coons. This 

 species is closely allied to L. Pealei, but has a more slender form, 

 with the caudal fin shorter and narrower in }>roportion to the length 

 of the mantle. The pen has a shorter and broader shaft and a nar- 

 rower and more oblong blade, which has parallel, thickened and darker 

 colored portions between the midrib and margins. The tentacular 

 suckers have their horny rings more coarsely and equally toothed, 

 there being only a partial alternation of larger and smaller teeth. 



Along our southern coast, from Delaware Bay to Florida, a much 

 shorter and relatively stouter species [Loligo brevis Bv.) occurs, which 

 might be mistaken, by a careless observer, for the present species. In 

 addition to its shorter body, it has very different large tentacular 

 suckers, with the teeth on the horny rim coarser and all of similar 

 form and size. Its pen is also shorter and relatively broader, and 

 different in structure. 



Notes on the Visceral Anatomy. 

 Plate XL, figures l-3a. Plate XLI, figure 1,9. 

 The gills {g) are large and highly organized in this species, 

 although considerably smaller than in Ommastrephes. The bases of 

 the gills are situated somewhat in advance of the middle of the mantle- 

 cavity, and their tips, in fresh specimens, extend forward nearly to 

 the base of the siphon (/"). The branchial chamber, behind the heart, 



