408 A. E. Verrill — N'orth American Cephalopods. 



The siipposed female has lost the tail, but the arms are in better 

 condition than those of the male; it differs from the male in having 

 distinctly smaller suckers on the lateral arms. Length of dorsal arms, 

 .2-n.m . Qf second pair, 44; of third pair, 46 ; of fourth pair, 37 ; -of 

 tentacular arms, 120 ; of club, 16"'"^ 



Two tyi^ioal specimens were obtained off Martha's Vineyard, at 

 stations 1031 and 1033, in 255 and 183 fathoms; one of doubtful 

 identity, at 994, in 36S fathoms, by the U. S. Fish Commission, in 

 1881. x411 three were from fish-stomachs. 



I take pleasure in dedicating tliis interesting species to Dr. T. H. 

 Bean, the iclithyologist, who took charge of the fishes on the "Fish 

 Hawk," this season. 



Chiroteuthis lacertosa, sp. nov. (See p. 299.) 



Chirottuthis Bonplandii ?, p. 299 (7ion Terany.) 



Plate LVI, figukes 1-1/'. 



A neai'ly complete male specimen of a ChirotevtJiis, lacking only 

 the tentacular ai'ms and the distal portion of the left ventral arm, 

 was received after the preceding pages were put in type. The 

 stumps of the tentacular arms, remaining, bear the same kind of un- 

 armed sessile suckers as did the arm described on p. 299, and figured 

 on pi. 47, figs. \-\h. It appears to be a new species, and is very 

 distinct from C. Bonplandii. The sessile arms are very large in 

 proportion to the head and body, and the ventral arms are much 

 larger than any of the others. The body is small, obconic, tapering 

 rapidly backward to the origin of the caudal tin, where it becomes 

 verv small, and continues to taper to the very slender posterior end. 

 The median dorsal angle of the mantle-edge projects far foi-ward, as 

 a broad angular lobe; lateral angles rounded and not prominent. 

 Caudal fin relatively large, as compared with the body, broad-ovate 

 in outline, widest near the middle, tapering backward to an acumin- 

 ate slender tip; very broadly rounded laterally, narrowing abrujatly 

 anteriorly; the anterior lobes are small, rounded, and project only 

 slio'htlv forward beyond the insertions. Siphon large, with a well- 

 formed valve, far back from the orifice ; dorsal bridles rudimentary. 

 Connective cartilages on the V)aseofthe siphon, broad-ovate, ear-sliaped, 

 with two rounded prominent lobes projecting into its concavity, one 

 posterior, the other ventral, so that the pit is three-cornered (fig. \h). 

 The corresponding connective cartilages of the mantle consist of 

 two pits, separated by a prominent, triangular tubercle (fig. le). 

 Head larc^e, in proportion to the body, tapering backward from the 



