246 
A. E. Verrill — North American Cephalopods. 
The following species, although the specimens, when found, had lost 
some of their most characteristic parts, appears to be nearly related 
to Onychoteuthis , a genus having sharp claws instead of suckers on 
the ‘ club’ of the tentacular-arms, and a cluster of small tubercles and 
smooth suckers on its ‘ wrist,’ to unite the arms together. It proba- 
bly belongs to the group Lestoteuthis , characterized below. 
Onychoteuthis robusta (Dali). 
Ommastrephes robustus (Dali. MSS.) Verrill. American Journal Science, vol. xii, p. 
236. 1876. 
Plates XXIII and XXIV. 
This large and very interesting species* was discovered by Mr. W. 
IT. Dali, near Iliuliuk, Unalashka I., olf the coast of Alaska.f He 
found three specimens thrown upon the beach, April 26 and May 8, 
1872. lie made descriptions, measurements, and some very valuable 
drawings of them, while fresh. The specimens had all been more or 
less mutilated by the ravens before they were discovered. He pre- 
served the pharynx, beak, and odontophore of Xo. 1 ; part of the 
‘bone,’ a piece of the caudal fin, and the basal part of one of the 
ventral arms, with five of the suckers adhering, from one of the other 
specimens, (Xo. 2), and has generously placed them in my hands for 
examination, together with his drawings, measurements and notes. 
The parts remaining of the largest specimen, Xo. 3, when found 
had a total length of 427 cm (14 feet), but the ends of the tentacular- 
arms had been destroyed ; length from tail to base of tentacular-arms, 
559 cm (8 feet, 6 inches); to front edge of mantle, 232*4 cm (7 feet, 7 \ 
inches); width across fins, 1 07 cm (42 inches); diameter of body, 45 •7 cm 
(18 inches); slender basal portion remaining of tentacular-arms, 
lo5 cm (61 inches); their diameter, 6‘3 cm (2 - 5 inches); short arms 
(ends gone), 76 to 102 cm (30 to 40 inches) ; length of pen, 226 cm 
(7 feet, 5 inches). 
According to Mr. Dali’s notes the color was reddish, in fine red dots 
on a whitish ground, with a darker stripe on the outer median line of 
the arms. The eyes were bluish-black, furnished with lids, and with 
a small sinus in front; diameter of the opening, 2-5 cm (1 inch). 
The mandibles retracted into a short, yellow, puckered muzzle, 
which was included in a longer, plain, proboscis-like tube, extending 
an inch or two beyond. Siphon, short and thick . \ Region of the eye 
* This is the species referred to as perhaps Onychoteuthis Bergi by Mr. Dali in his 
note upon large cephalopods, in the American Naturalist, vol. vii, p. 484, 1873. 
f The first specimen was found by Mr. M. W. Harrington, of Mr. Dali’s party, on 
the west shore of Amaknak Island, Captain’s Harbor, Unalashka, April 26th. 
\ No valve is shown in Mr. Dali’s sketches. 
