2 ZOOLOGY OF THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. SAMARA1SG. 



without moving, taking the mouth for a central point, and the extremities of the arms, to describe the 

 circumference. Dorsal plates of Sepia, afoot and a half in length, are found strewing the beaches. I have 

 frequently observed the Sepia and Oetopi in full predatory activity, and have had considerable trouble and 

 difficulty in securing them, so great is their restless vivacity at this time, and so vigorous are their endeavours 

 to escape. They dart from side to side of the pools, or fix themselves so tenaciously to the surface of the 

 stones, by means of their sucker-like acetabula, that it requires great force and strength to detach them. 

 When removed, and thrown upon the sand, they progress rapidly in a sidelong, shuffling manner, extending 

 their long arms, ejecting their ink-like fluid in sudden violent jets, and staring about with their huge 

 shining eyes, which at night are luminous, like a cat's, in a very grotesque and hideous manner. A. A. 



1. LOLTGOPSIS, Lamarck. 



1. Loligopsis ellipsopteea. Lolig. pallio magno, laxo, infundibuliformi, antice aperto, semi- 

 pellucido, per cujus parietes viscera obscure conspiciuntur, extremitate caudali longa et fastigiata, confirmata, 

 atque intus corpore longo, gracili, penmformi, corneo sustentata; lobis caudalibus, sive pinnis, magnis, 

 depressis, extra rotundatis, forma seinicirculari conjunctis, pinnam ovalem horizontalem terminalem 

 efficientibus ; infundibulo permagno, extremitate truncata ; capite magno, rotundato, utrinque dilatato, oculis 

 grandibus, depressiusculis, argenteo-irridescentibus, pupillo nigro; brachiis octo trifariam divisis, duobus 

 superioribus medianis, tribus inferioribus brevibus, acetabulis undique munitis. 



Hab. North Atlantic Ocean. 



The Loligopsis belongs to that family of Cryptodibranchiate Cephalopods which is charac- 

 terized by the possession of eight brachial appendages around the head ; differing in this 

 respect from the Loligo of Lamarck, and the Cranclda of Leach, which belong to the 

 decapodous division or those with ten arms. M. de Ferussac considered, however, that the 

 genus Loligopsis should be reunited with Cranchia, so little was then known of the nature of 

 this mollusk. Lesueur has bestowed the name of LeacMa on this genus, which, in addition 

 to its conferring an honour on our illustrious countryman, Dr. Leach, would, perhaps, have 

 been more appropriate than the received appellation, which sometimes tends to confound it 

 with Loligo. This present species, which appears to come nearest to the Loligopsis pavo of 

 D'Orbigny, is of a delicate flesh colour, with scattered, pale brown blotches, the whole 

 surface of the mantle being finely puncticulated with a deep brown colour. The mantle is 

 large, loose, infundibuliform, and wide open anteriorly ; it is semipellucid, and the internal 

 viscera may be indistinctly seen through its parietes. The caudal extremity is long and 

 tapering, strengthened and supported internally by an elongated, slender, pen-shaped, 

 corneous body. The caudal lobes, or fins, are large, flattened, rounded externally, semicir- 

 cular in outline, and forming together an oval, horizontal, terminal fin, which constitutes the 

 principal organ of progression. The funnel, of great size, is nearly cylindrical, semitrans- 

 parent, and rather expanded at its fixed or basal portion. The head is large, rounded, and 

 considerably dilated from side to side. The eyes are very large, in form of a flattened spheroid, 

 having the black-coloured sclerotic marked, on the under-surface, with four silver spots ; the 

 iris is of a beautiful golden hue, and the pupil is large, black, and circular. The brachia, 

 eight in number, are divided, by reason of their length, into three sets : the central set, con- 



