324 The American Naturalist [April, 



estimated that the length of the complete animal would exceed 2 meters. 

 The surface of the sac is covered with large, solid rhomboidal scales, 

 like those of a pine cone. The fin is very powerful, forms one-half of 

 the length of the body and is not furnished with scales. 



When the stomach of the whale was opened it was found to contain 

 over a hundred kilogrammes of partially digested debris of cephalopods, 

 all of them of enormous size. The crown and tentacles of a Cucio- 

 teuthis were identified. This genus has hitherto been known only by 

 few fragments. The muscular arms, though shrunken and contracted 

 by the preserving fluid, are as thick as those of a man, were covered 

 with great suckers, each armed with a sharp claw, as powerful as those 

 of the larger carnivora. More than one hundred of these suckers 

 remain adhering to the arms. 



Another cephalopod found in the stomach of the whale is provided 

 with a large fin, in the skin of which are enclosed certain photogenic 

 organs. The form of the body suggests a new species, but as the head 

 is wanting, it cannot be positively identified. 



These cephalopods are all powerful swimmers, and very muscular. 

 They appear to belong to the fauna of the deep intermediate waters, an 

 almost unknown region. They never come to the surface, no do they 

 lie on the bottom of the sea. Their great agility prevents their capture 

 in nets, hence it would seem that the only way to obtain these interest- 

 ing gigantic creatures is to kill the giant who feeds upora them and 

 rescue the fragments from his huge maw. 



Accordingly, for the next season's cruise, the Princess Alice is to 

 have, in addition to her present fittings, those of a sperm whaler, or else 

 to have as a compainiou a special whaling tender. 



The further working up of the material in hand is being pushed for- 

 ward with energy, and interesting results are anticipated. (Nature, 

 Jan., 1896.) 



Australian Spiders. — Among the new Arachnida reported from 

 New South Wales are three species of Nephila ; K Jteteherii, N. 

 edu-nrilni and ventricosa. These are described and figured by Mr. W. 

 J. Rainbow in the Proceeds, of the Linn. Soc. N. South Wales. The 

 author includes in his paper some interesting observations on the habits 

 of Nephilse and their supposed bird-snaring propensities. Representa- 

 tives of this genus abound in tropictll and subtropical region?. Their 

 webs are composed of two kinds of Bilk ; one yellow, exceedingly viscid 

 and elastic, the other white, dry and somewhat brittle. The latter is 

 used for the framework of the web, the guys and radii, and the former 



