B12 Transactions. — Zoology. 



I am sorry to say that Mr, Hamilton has mislaid the notes and measure^ 

 ments, but those given above cannot be far out. 



3. On 23rd of May last, the Ven. Archdeacon Stock very kindly sent 

 me word that three boys, named Edward E. Stock, and Frank and Walter 

 Morrah, had that morning discovered, at Lyall Bay, what they took to be a 

 very large cuttlefish, with arms several feet long. I lost no time in pro- 

 ceeding to the spot, determined, if possible, to carry home the entire 

 specimen ; but judge my surprise when, on reaching the bay, I saw an 

 animal of the size represented in the drawing now before you.* Victor 

 Hugo's account of his "pieuvre" was brought vividly to my mind, and I 

 could not help thinking that a man would stand but a poor chance if he 

 once got Avithin the grasp of such a monster. 



My first step after spreadnig out the arms, was to make a rough sketch 

 and very careful measurements. I then proceeded to extract the so-called 

 skeleton, but found that some person or persons, who had visited the s]3ot 

 earlier than myself, had not been able to resist the temptation to try the 

 temper of thek knives upon its back, and had in consequence severed the 

 cuttle-bone in various places. However, I was able, not only to procure all 

 the pieces, but also the beak, tongue, and some of the suckers, only a 

 few of which remained, the greater portion of them having been torn off, 

 either in some fierce encounter, or during the rough weather which had 

 prevailed for some days previously. 



The length of body from tip of tail to anterior margin of the mantle was 

 9 feet 2 inches and 7 feet 3 inches in circiunfereuce ; the head from anterior 

 margm of mantle to roots of arms 1 foot 11 inches, making the total length 

 of the body 11 feet 1 inch. The head measured 4 feet in chcumference. 

 The sessile arms measured 4 feet 3 inches in length, and 11 inches in cir- 

 cumference ; each of these arms bore thirty- six suckers, arranged in two 

 equal rows (as shown by the scars) , and measuring from ^f to ^ of an inch 

 in diameter ; every sucker was strengthened by a bony ring armed with from 

 forty to sixty sharp incurved teeth. The tentacular arms had been torn ofi^ 

 at the length of 6 feet 2 inches, which was probably less than half their 

 original length. 



The fins were posterior, and were mere lateral expansions of the mantle, 

 they did not extend over the back as in the case with Onychoteuthis, etc. ; 

 each measured 24 inches in length and 13 inches in width. 



The cuttle bone, when first extracted, measured 6 feet 3 inches in 

 length, and 11 inches in width, but has since shrunk considerably; it was 

 broadly lanceolate, with a hollow conical apex IJ inch deep. 



4. Another specimen, measming 8 feet in length, was lately caught by 

 a fishing party, near the Boulder Bank, at Nelson, concerning which I have 



* The paper was illustrated by drawings showing the animpj life-size. 



