884 ^1. E. Verrlll — ISforth A/jierlcan Gephalopods. 



arms, about 203""" ; entire circumference of web, about 1218"'"', but 

 its exact extent cannot be ascertained, because, in our specimen, the 

 web between the ventral arms was badly torn. 



The only known example of this remarkable species was taken by 

 Capt. Melvin Gilpatrick and crew, schooner " Polar Wave," in N. lat. 

 43° 54'; W. long. 58° 44', on Banquereau, about 30 miles E. of Sable 

 I., N. S., in 250 fathoms. Presented to the U. S. Fish Commission, 

 Sept. 1879 (lot 472). 



jSFotes on the Visceral Anatomy. 



The anatomy of this species is very peculiar, but as the original 

 specimen still remains unique, and is not in very good preservation, 

 internally, 1 do not propose to give more than a few anatomical notes 

 on this occasion. The ventral wall of the mantle cavity is exten- 

 sively bound down to the visceral mass over a wide central area, by 

 connective and muscular tissue, which does not form a definite sep- 

 tum, found in most other Dibranchiata. This central area underlies, 

 especially, the large nidamental glands and oviduct. Farther back 

 the two sides of the branchial cavity are in communication. 



The gills are very peculiar. Each one consists of a short and 

 broad, ovate group or cluster of very much folded or convoluted 

 lamellae attached directly to the inner surface of the mantle by one 

 edge, and having the free edge much frilled and crisped. 



These lamellae have, however-, a somewhat transverse arrange- 

 ment, and one or two of those nearest the base of the gill, on each 

 side of its median line, are more simple, and are separate from the 

 rest, but those farther out become confluent across the median line, 

 and lose their distinctness. There appears to be about four or five 

 principal lamellae on each side of the middle line of the gill. 



The oviduct is single and nearly median, its orifice being a little 

 to the left of the median line. A large nidamental gland, consisting 

 of a posterior, yellowish portion, and a much larger, round, dark 

 brown, anterior portion, surrounds the oviduct ; the portion behind 

 these glands is thin, tubular, and contains large round ova. 



The anterior portion, in front of the glands, is large and much 

 thickened, and terminates in a slightly bilabiate orifice, at the base 

 of the siphon. P^'om the portion of the oviduct in front of the large 

 glands I took a large mature egg, covered with a hard, dark reddish 

 brown case. This egg, seen endwise, has a broad elliptical outline, 

 and while the two ends are truncated and smoothish, the sides are 

 ornamented with numerous regular, roughened, elevated ribs. 

 Greatest breadth of the egg, 11"""; lesser breadth, 7"""; length, 6""". 

 The anal orifice is not raised on a distinct elevation. A small ure- 

 thral papilla arises in front of the base of each gill. 



