98 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGEE. 



Lengtli of first arm, 

 Length of second arm, 

 Lengtli of third arm, 

 Length of fourth arm, 



Eight. 



Left. 



250 mm. 



2251 mm. 



230 „ 



220 „ 



145 „ 



160 „ 



165 „ 



160 „ 



The two specimens in the Challenger collection agree in all essential particulars 

 with several in the Copenhagen Museum, so that I have gladly adopted Professor 

 Steenstrup's MS. name for the species, recalling the fact that it was first obtained off Rio 

 Janeiro. 



On a recent visit to Paris, Dr. Paul Fischer showed me some specimens of an Octopus 

 obtained in large numbers by the " Talisman " ; from the hurried glance, which was all I 

 could give them, they seemed to present a considerable resemblance to this form, but 

 without further examination it would be impossible to form any opinion as to their 

 identity. 



It is not a little remarkable that the same species of Octopus should be found in such 

 diverse localities as is here the case ; it is further noticeable that the smaller specimen 

 furnishes one of the very few instances in which an Octopus was brought up by the deep- 

 sea dredge or trawl, the genus being usually found only in comparatively shallow water. 

 If Dr. Fischer's specimens should prove to belong to the same species the opinion would 

 be forcibly suggested that we have here to do with a veritably abj^ssal Octopus. 



Octopus levis, Hoyle (PL II. figs. 1-4; PL III. fig. 1). 



1885. Octopus levis, Hoyle, Diagnoses 1., p. 229. 

 1885. „ „ Hoyle, Prelim. Eep. I, p. 104. 



Habitat. — Station 151, off Heard Island, Southern Ocean, February 7, 1874; 

 lat. 52° 59' 30" S., long. 73° 33' 30" W.; 75 fathoms; volcanic mud. Four specimens, 

 one J , one $ immature, two $ immature. 



The Body is oblong, depressed, and bulges a little at the sides. The mantle- 

 opening extends about one-third round the circumference, terminating about midway 

 between the siphon and the eye. The sip)hon is short and small, extending scarcely 

 one-third the distance to the umbreUa-margin. 



The Head is almost as broad as the body ; and the eyes are large, spheroidal, and 

 prominent, with very small circular apertures. 



Tlie Arms are subequal and short, compared with the body, being about three times 

 its length ; they taper gradually to moderately fine points. The umbrella is large, 

 extending about one-third of the arms. The suckers are small and prominent, and 

 arranged in two rows from the commencement (PL III. fig. 1); a narrow well-marked 



1 The extreme tip is wanting. 



