526 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [24] 



very elongated head. The others are species of Octopus, from 142 and 

 1,290 fathoms. 



Of Gastropods many new forms occurred. One of the most remarka- 

 ble is a large shell, from 1,395 to 2,594 fathoms, the living ones only 

 from below 2,000 fathoms, constituting a new genus {Benihodolium abys- 

 sorum y., fig. 84, a, 6), allied to Bolium, but having an operculum, and 

 in form somewhat resembling Buccinum. Its animal and dentition are, 

 however, like Dolium. There was also a thin and delicate Buccinum (B. 

 abyssorum V., fig. 80) of good size, the live ones ranging from 906 to 

 1,309 fathoms. Several interesting new forms of Sipho occurred. These 

 are mostly small species, but some of them are of good size, as 8. pro- 

 fundicola V. (fig. 81), living in 1,525 to 2,574 fathoms. 



The curious and very beautifully sculptured shells belonging to the 

 genus Seguenzia were among the most interesting forms. Two species 

 were taken living. One of these is S. formosa Jefffreys (fig. 88), the 

 other is a closely related new species, ^8'. eritima Y. (fig. 89). They 

 both occurred several times in 1,290 to 2,033 fathoms. The possession 

 of these species, with the animal preserved in alcohol, enabled me to 

 study the dentition, and thus ascertain the zoological affinities of the 

 genus. It proves to belong to the TsBuioglossa, somewhere near Apor- 

 rhais and Fossarus, but evidently represents a new family [Seguenzidce 

 Y.). It has no relationship whatever with Trochidse, where it had been 

 put by Boog- Watson and by Dall, nor with Solaridce, where it was lo- 

 cated by Jeffreys and others. The resemblance to these widely diverse 

 groups is confined entirely to the shell, which is, however, very peculiar. 



The Toxoglossa, as usual in deep water, were relatively very numer- 

 ous, and included several handsomely sculptured new species belonging 

 to Pleurotomella and allied genera. The largest of these is P. Bairdii 

 (fig. 68), which is the largest member of this group known off our coast. 

 It occurred living in 1,537 to 2,021 fathoms. Another remarkable and 

 elegant species is P. Catherince (fig 76, a), from 843 to 2,033 fathoms. P. 

 Benedicti (fig. 70, a), from 1,290 fethoms ; P. Emertoni (fig. 74), from 

 1,917 fathoms ; and P. Bruneri (fig. 75), from 1,608 to 2,033 fathoms, are 

 also handsome shells, with the elegant and delicate sculpture and trans- 

 lucency characteristic of many deep-sea shells. 



The Chitons or Polyplacophora are very scarce in deep water, pertaps 

 owing to the small number of suitable objects to which they can adhere, 

 for even the small limpets are generally found in worm-tubes, empty 

 skate's eggs, or other similar places. Only five species of Chiton have 

 been taken below 60 fathoms by us, and most of th^se also live in shallow 

 water and do not go very .deep. One was a very interesting new species 

 {Euplacopliora Atlantica V., figs. 102, 102a) belonging to a group not 

 known before from the Atlantic. It is remarkable for the very broad 

 anterior girdle. 



The Ehiphidoglossa are well represented in deep water by several 

 handsome species belonging to the Trochidse, such as Calliostoma Bairdii 



