474 DR. R. O. CUNNINGHAM ON THE REPTILES, 
MOLLUSCA. 
CEPHALOPODA. 
OCTOPODIDJE. 
1. OCTOPUS, sp. 
A species of this genus was observed at St. Vincent and the Cape-Verde Islands; 
but as the specimens then preserved are not now in good condition, I have judged it 
more prudent not to attach any specific name to them. The animal is evidently the 
same with that whose habits were described by Mr. Darwin at St. Jago, in the Cape- 
Verdes. The specimens met with at St. Vincent were of small size, of a dirty mottled 
grey colour, and exhibited great activity of movement, swimming about the rock-pools 
with great rapidity, tail foremost, and occasionally discharging the contents of the ink- 
bag, to screen themselves from observation, and, when placed on the surface of the rock, 
scrambling along on their arms with wonderful agility. 
2. OCTOPUS MEGALOCYATHUS, Phil. (?). 
À species of Octopus which is not uncommon in the Strait of Magellan, and was the 
only Cephalopod which I encountered in that region, is, I believe, referable to the above 
species. A number of specimens were procured, most of them taken in the eastern part 
of the Strait; and a cluster of ova apparently belonging to the species were found on the 
beach at Punta Arenas. The animal attains a very considerable size; and many large 
mutilated specimens were met with, thrown up on the sandy beach at Punta Arenas after 
violent westerly gales. Like most other Cephalopods, the skin exhibits very remark- 
able changes of colour when the animal is alive. 
3. Octopus FoNTANIANUS, D'Orb. 
I obtained two specimens of this species, which is, I believe, common on the coast of 
Chili, in a rock-pool in the Bay of Coquimbo, on August 17th, 1868. One of them was : 
discovered under a large stone which I had turned over in search of marine animals. 
Its colour, at first dirty greyish-white, changed almost instantaneously to a rich dark 
purplish red, as it swam off with great rapidity and the directness of an arrow, propelled 
by the rapid movements of its arms. 
TEUTHIDA. 
4. LoLico Gaunt, D'Orb. 
Small specimens of this species were obtained in our seine at Luco Bay (Araucania) 
in November 1868, and at San Carlos de Ancud (Chiloe) in April 1868. 
5. OMMASTREPHES, Sp. 
Large fragments of a species of the genus were found in the cesophagus and stomach 
of an albatros (Diomedea ezulans) caught near the southern extremity of the Chonos 
archipelago in March 1868. 
