96 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Mediterranean. He is of opinion tliat they are identical, and that view I have adopted 

 in the present Eeport. 



As regards the name, seeing that Risso's was accompanied by a description in a 

 published book, while d'Orbigny's was merely inscribed at the bottom of a plate which 

 appears to have been in the first instance privately distributed, it appears right to adopt 

 that of the former author. 



AVhat the Octojms ruber of Rafinesque really was will probably always remain 

 doubtful. Cantraine^ adopted the name for this species because its colour is generally 

 ruddy, but the account of the length of the arms (" antenopes egaux, environ le double 

 du corps ") is strongly at variance with this hypothesis. 



Octopus handensis, Hoyle (PI. VII. figs. 9, 10). 



1885. Octopus handensis, Hoyle, Diagnoses I., p. 227. 

 1885. „ „ Hoyle, Prelim. Eep. L, p. 102. 



Habitat. — Banda. One young specimen. 



The Body is rounded and depressed (?from pressure), and with a slight ventral 

 groove. The mantle-opening terminates immediately below and behind the eye. The 

 siphon extends as far as the umbrella-margin, and is acutely pointed. 



The Head is broader than the body, and fiattened by compression ; the eyes are very 

 prominent. 



The Arms are unequal, the third pair being much the longest and stoutest ; on the 

 average they are four times as long as the body; they taper gradually at first, and then 

 more rapidly. The umbrella is very small. The suckers are prominent, the first four 

 being disposed in a single series (incorrectly shown on PL VII. fig. 10); and none are 

 enlarged on the lateral arms. No hectocotylised arm was present in the single specimen. 



TJie Surface is smooth in general, but there are about twelve warts on the back and 

 sides of the body, and a large cirrus over each eye, with several smaller ones near it. 



The Colour is deep black, apparently owing to treatment with osmic acid. 



Dime7isions. 



Total length, ........ 25 mm. 



End of body to eye, . . . . . . . 6 „ 



This minute specimen presents so striking an elongation of its third pair of arms as 

 compared with the others that it is impossible to refer it to any hitherto known 

 species. 



1 Malacol. m^it., p. 18. 



