17 " 
-.4. E. Verrill- — JTortJt American Cephalopoda. 
often vomit large fragment" of them in such a condition as to be re- 
cognizable.* The first reliable account, known to me, of specimens 
actually taken in American waters by our fishermen and whalemen was 
published by Dr. A. S. Packard, in 1S73.+ In that article Dr. Pack- 
ard described a portion of a jaw from a large specimen (our Xo. 1) 
taken by the Gloucester fishermen on the Grand Banks, and a very 
large pair of jaws taken from the stomach of a sperm whale, (our Xo. 
10). Soon after this, iu 1873, a large living specimen was encoun- 
tered by two fishermen iu Conception Bay, and one of the tentacular- 
arms. which was secured, was preserved in the museum of St. John’s, 
Newfoundland, by the Rev. Mr. Harvey and Mr. Alexander Murray, 
(our Xo. J). Both these gentlemen wrote good and interesting 
accounts of this specimen, which were extensively copied in the 
magazines and newspapers, while a photograph of the arm itself 
was also secured and distributed. 
Thi> important addition to our knowledge of these creatures was 
followed, a few weeks later, by the capture of a nearly perfect speci- 
men of the same species, near St. John’s. Mr. Harvey and Mr. 
Murray likewise secured this specimen and published detailed ac- 
counts of it. which gave a more accurate idea of the character of the 
genii' and species than any previous descriptions. 
My own attention was specially directed to these large Cephalopods, 
at that time, on account of being so fortunate as to secure for study 
most of the preserved portions of all the specimens referred to above, 
with some additional ones, detailed below. For these very interest- 
ing specimens I am especially indebted to the zeal and kindness of 
the Rev. Mr. Harvey, and to Professor S. F. Baird. To Dr. A. S. 
Packard I am indebted for the use of the jaws of Xo. 1". Mr. Pour- 
tales. of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, has also kindly sent 
the specimens belonging to that museum, and Mr. W. H. Dali has 
contributed his specimens and drawings of a species from Alaska. 
>j*eeial acknowledgments to others will be found in connection with 
the descriptions of the specimens. 
Although I have, in several former papers, J given details of the 
* See Maury'- Sailing Directions : also articles by X. S Shaler. American Naturalist, 
vol. vii. p. 3. 1873; by Dr. Packard, op. cit., p. 90; and by Mr. W. H. Dali. op. cit., 
p. 484. 
f American Naturalist. voL TiL p. 91, February, 1873. 
♦ American Jour. Science, vol. vii. p. 158, Feb.. 1874: vol. ix. pp. 123, 177. Plates 
II-V. 1875: vol. x. p. 213. Sept.. 1875; voL xii. p. 236. 1S76; voL xiv. p. 425. Nov.. 
1877. American Naturalist, vol. viii. p. 167. 1874: vol. ix. pp. 21. 78, Jan. and Feb., 
1875. 
