44 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZdOLOGY. 



the first three, and with regard to the fourth there is nothing impossible (or 

 even improbable) in suckers being developed which subsequently disappear. 

 This appears to be the case even with the arms in Verania. For these reasons 

 I do not think it needful to create a new species for the reception of the 

 present example. 



TAONIUS. 



Taonius Steenstrup, '61, p. 83 (15). 



42. Taonius, sp. 



(Plate 1, Figs. 4, 5; Plate 6, Figs. 13, 13.) 



Habitat. — Station 3414; off Tehuantepec; "surface to 100 fathoms." 

 April 8, 1891 ; lat. 10° 14' N., long. 96° 28' W., 2232 fathoms; temperature, 

 surface 82°, bottom 35°.8 ; green mud; one specimen ; immature. [H. 49.] 



This young specimen probably measured about 25 mm. in length (excluding 

 the tentacle) in its uncontracted condition. It is somewhat difficult to form 

 an opinion as to the species to which it should be referred. The shape of the 

 fin and of the terminal portion of the pen is shown in Plate 6, Fig. 13, but it 

 is too immature to give any definite indications. 



The stalk of the tentacle (Plate 6, Fig. 12) has a flattened surface extending 

 halfway from the club towards the oral extremity, with four rows of very 

 minute long-stalked suckers. In the adult T. hyperboreus (Hoyle, '86, Plate 

 33, Figs. 6, 7) there are suckers and fixing pads somewhat similarly disposed. 

 A comparison suggests the query — Are the fixing pads the stumps of suckers 

 which have fallen off ? In T. siihmi there are two rows of small papillae reach- 

 ing down the stem of the tentacle for a distance about equal to the length ot 

 the club, but there does not seem to be any definite arrangement of suckers 

 and fixing pads. The whole question of the development of these organs 

 would repay investigation if adequate material were forthcoming. 



A drawing showing the appearance of the animal when alive is reproduced 

 on Plate 1, Figs. 4, 5. 



43 Decapod, fam., gen., et sp. 1 



Habitat. — Station 14; north of the Marquesas Islands; September 7, 1899; 

 lat. 6° 41' N., long. 137° W. ; 150 fathoms to surface; temperature, surface 

 82° ; one young specimen. [H. 140.] 



A curious little creature with very short mantle, the dorsal margin forming 

 R prominent point in the middle line ; the tentacles comparatively very thick. 

 I do not know to what group it is to be referred. 



