REPORT ON THE CEPHALOPODA. 63 



passes to the tip of the arm on the dorsal aspect, and only about two-thirds up it on the 

 ventral. 



On the ventral side of each arm, just where the margin of the umbrella is attached, is 

 a peculiar ovoid nodule of cartilaginous consistency projecting inwards, somewhat paler in 

 colour than the surrounding tissue (see PL X. figs. 1, 2). This is obviously homologous 

 with the thickening of the margin of the web in Cirroteuthis mulleri, alluded to above, 

 and I have no doubt that it is of a similar nature to the structure described by Verrill 

 in the case of his Cirroteuthis megaptera} In that case, however, the organ seems 

 to have been long and tentacular instead of being a mere nodule. I do not feel able to 

 suggest any function for these structures, other than that they serve to strengthen the 

 web at its attachment to the arm where it would naturally run the greatest risk of being 

 torn. I do not think that their arrangement in this species lends any support to Verrill's 

 view that " it may, perhaps, correspond to one of the transverse supports of the marginal 

 membranes of Sthenoteuthis and Ommastrephes," but should rather be disposed to agree 

 with Professor Steenstrup who regards them as comparable to the thickened margin of 

 the web-like expansion of the third pair of arms of Ommastrephes. In any case it is 

 interesting to see here a stage in the evolution of the more complete organ, which he 

 has described, another step being represented by the still less pronounced nodule observed 

 in the nest species. 



The proximal end of the cartilage of the fin was exposed and presented a long grooved 

 articular surface ; the one branchia which remained was similar to that of Cirroteuthis 

 miilleri, presenting the appearance of a spheroidal nodule with meridional grooves, and 

 looking not unlike an Oniscus when rolled up. 



Cirroteuthis meangensis, Hoyle (PL IX. figs. 12, 13; PL XL figs. 1, 2 ; PL XIII. 

 figs. 5, 6). 



1876. Cirroteuthis sp., Suhm, Challenger Briefe VI., Zeitschr. f. wiss. Zool., Bd. xxvi. p. Ixxx. 

 188.5. „ meangensis, Hoyle, Diagnoses I., p. 234. 



1885. „ „ Hoyle, Prelim. Rep. I., p. 111. 



Habitat. — Station 214, ofi" the Meangis Islands, February 10, 1875 ; lat. 4° 33' K, 

 long. 127° 6' E.; 500 fathoms; blue mud. One specimen. 



Station 171, north of the Kermadec Islands, July 15, 1874; lat. 28° 33' S., long. 

 177° 50' W.; 600 fathoms ; hard ground. One immature specimen. 



The Body is much distorted, but appears to have been subglobular in form. The 

 mantle-opening is very small, and fits closely around the base of the siphon, which is 

 small and bluntly conical, with a still smaller pimple-Hke extremity; on either side there 

 extends from the dorso-lateral base a curved fold of membrane, which loses itself in the 



ThirdCatal.,p. 407. 



