ÖFVERSIGT AF K. VETENSK.-AKAD. FÖRHANDLINGAR 1896, N:0 8. 605 



material for a thorough investigatlon of thls organ I will only 

 point out its glandulär structure and state that its function, 

 according to my opinion, is not to Substitute a valve, because 

 it is strongly developed even in those forms which are provided 

 with a very large valve, (e. g. Ommatostrephini), but to anoint 

 the funnel and lessen the friction of the expelled water at the 

 same time as it protects the interiör epithelium of the funnel 

 against the influences of the ink and other excretions. I have 

 found the funnel-organ ') in representatives of all families and 

 genera of Cephalopods, except in Nautilus. 



Mastigoteuthis lerimaua n. sp. 



From lat. 43° N., long. 24° W. Captain C. Eckman brought 

 home a mutilated Cephalopod and fragments of another, both of 

 which had been bitten by a delphinus. The tentacles are absent, 

 but from the very elongated ventral arms and the characteristic 

 connective apparatus with its »ovate earshaped elevated cartilage, 

 on each side, fitting into corresponding deep, circumscribed pits 

 on the base of the siphon» 2) etc. one can easily recognize the 

 Mastigoteuthis type. The length of the pallium seems to have 

 been about 60 mm. the aboral tip is, however, a little mutilated. 

 The body is cylindrical, posteriorly tapering to a point. The 

 caudal fin is broad, rounded at the sides and transversally elliptic 

 in shape. The length, and the breadth from the median line to 

 the lateral margin of each fin, is about equal, measuring 23 mm. 

 The fin is thus different in shape from the rhomboidal fin of 

 Mastigoteuthis agassizii, the length of which is nearly two thirds 

 of that of the mantle, according to Verrill's figure. Our spe- 

 cimen also seems rather stouter than Verrill's. The order of 

 arms is 4, 3=2, 1. The ventral arms are equal in length to the 

 pallium, the lateral pairs of arms measure 33 mm. and the dorsal 



^) This organ was first seen by Heinb. Müller 1852 (Zeitschr. f. Wias. Zool. 

 Bd 4) but this was forgotten when Verrill rediscovered it in t Desmoteuthis* 

 (Trans. Conn. Acad. Vol. V.) Hoyle in Taonius and Gonatus and Weiss iii 

 Tracheloteuthis, Histioteuthis and Veranya. 



^) Verrill, N. Am. Cephalopods, Trans. Conn. Acad. Vol. V, port 2 New Haven 

 1882 p. 296. 



