OF CUTTLE FISH. 99 



- extend further towards the head, than those of 

 the hooks. These curved horny nails are each cover 

 ed by a membrane when at rest, which resembles a 

 small pocket. The inferior arms are furnished with 

 a small longitudinal natatory membrane upon their 

 exterior side, and at their base; the lateral arms have 

 also a membrane towards their extremity and above. 

 Colour, as usual in the species of this family, vary- 

 ing from a blue to a purple, or yellow, &c. 



Total length from the extremity of the tentacular to 

 the tip of the fin, 3 inches. 



Head 5 lines; tentacular 1 inch and an half; body 

 1 inch. 



Observations. — I have had for some time in my 

 possession, a drawing of a Loligo, which was obtain- 

 ed during a voyage from the Canary Islands to the 

 Isle of France, in latitude 36° 40' south, and longi- 

 tude 29° east. This drawing, which was executed 

 by Mr. Petit, is very finely coloured; but as it is not 

 sufficiently detailed, it was regarded as inadequate to 

 establish the certainty of the existence of the species 

 which it represented. All doubts, however, are now 

 dissipated by our observations upon the species of 

 the Gulf Stream, and by those recently published by 

 Dr. Leach upon a species of the coast of Africa, 

 Although Mr. Petit' s drawing is not calculated to 

 exhibit minute characteristics, yet the following dif- 

 ferential traits are remarkable. The hooks are but 

 slightly curved, and destitute of suckers at their base, 

 die fin is rhomboidal, prolonged to a point at the 



