100 BULLETIN OF THE 



stomachs of fishes (Lophius) caught oflf Newport, R. I., in 65 and 372 fathoms, 

 this season, by the United States Fish Commission, indicating that it fre- 

 quents the bottom at such depths. 



This species ranges northward, on the American coast, to Cumberland Gulf. 

 It is most abundant from Cape Cod to Newfoundland. Large specimens have 

 been taken at Wood's Hull, ou the southern coast of Massachusetts, in winter. 



MASTIGOTEUTHIS gen. nov. 



Body elongated, tapering to a point, confluent with the caudal fin posteriorly. 

 Caudal fin very large and broad, rhomboidal, occupying about haK the length 

 of the body. Mantle fastened to the base of the siphon by an ovate, ear-shaped 

 elevated cartilage, on each side, fitting into corresponding deep, circumscribed 

 pits on the base of the siphon. Siphon with a bilabiate aperture, an internal 

 valve, and a pair of dorsal bridles. Eyes large, with round pupils ; lids free, 

 thin, apparently with a very small anterior sinus. Arms very unequal, the 

 ventral ones much the longest. Suckers small, in two regular rows. Tentacu- 

 lar arms long and round, tapering to the tips, shaped like a whip-lash, without 

 any distinct club ; the distal portion is covered nearly all around with exceed- 

 ingly numerous and minute suckers, which leave only a verj- narrow, naked 

 line along the outside. Pen narrow and bicostate anteriorly, very slender in 

 the middle; posteriorly much larger, with a long tubular cone. 



This remarkable genus differs so widely from all others hitherto described 

 that it will form the type of a new family {Mastigoteuthidce), distinguished by 

 the character of the tentacular arms and suckers, the pen, the connective carti- 

 lages, and simple eyelids. 



Mastigoteuthis Agassizii sp. nov. 



Plate I. Fig. 1. Plate II. Figs. 8-3«. 



Body elongated, round anteriorly ; posteriorly tapering rapidly to the slender, 

 acute, terminal portion, which is confluent Avith the caudal fin to the tip. 

 Front dorsal edge of mantle emarginate in the middle. Caudal fin very large 

 and broad, transversely rhomboidal, obtuse posteriorly ; its length, from origin 

 to tip, about equal to half the combined length of the head and body. Eyes 

 large, with thin lids ; pupils circular ; iris brown, in alcohol. Sessile arms 

 very unequal ; ventral arms much larger and longer than the others, about 

 equal to the combined length of head and body ; dorsal anns very small, 

 scarcely one third the length of the ventral pair ; two lateral pairs nearly 

 efjual, decidedly longer and stouter than the dorsal pair. A delicate, thin, 

 marginal membrane extends along the arms, outside the rows of suckers, to the 

 slender tips. Suckers small, in two regular rows, on all the arms, subglobular, 

 with small oblique apertures, surrounded by small horny rings, having a nearly 

 entire margin. Basal web, between the arms, very small. 



