2-16 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



\dnrd tUiistorg. 



THE GIANT SQUIDS. 



4. 



AT a recent meeting of the Connecticut Academy of Arts 

 and Sciences, Prof. A. L. Verrill, of Yale, made some 

 very interesting remarks upon the three additional specimens 

 of gigantic cuttlefish, discovered during the past year upon 

 the American coast. 



These large cephalopods all belong to the genus Architenthis, 

 a specimen of which— and one of the most perfect yet found 

 — is now on exhibition at the Aquarium in this city. One of 

 the principal characters of this genus, and a point in which it 

 differs from all other squids, is the presence on the two longer 

 arms of suckers, by which it is enabled to fasten together its 

 two wrists, so called, so that the two long arms may be used 

 together, and their power thus greatly increased. The smaller 

 squids, wanting these suckers, are obliged to use the long 

 arms independently. It is generally known that near their 

 extremities the long arms become wider and oarlike in shape, 

 and are here furnished with large sucking disks, the margins 

 of which are raised and serrated. These serrations are strong 

 and sharp, and when the disks are applied to the skin of the 

 cuttlefish's prey the atmospheric pressure forces them into it, 

 aud the victim is so firmly held that it has no hope of escape. 

 Such suckers as these, however, would not answer when the 

 flesh which is to receive them is the squid's own, and for this 

 reason the rims of the sucking disks which hold the long arms 

 together are without the serrated edges of the more distant 

 suckers. One more condition, however, is necessary in order 

 that these proximal disks shall fulfill their office. It is well 

 known that even though a sucker may resist all vertical pres- 

 sure, it can often be slipped to one side or the other with little 

 effort. Thus the receiver of an air pump, although it may 

 resist any effort to raise' it directly, can easily be slipped to 

 one side and then removed from the floor upon which it rests. 

 The smooth disks of the long arms, if they acted directly on 

 the soft aud viscid flesh, would be very likely to slip when 

 any lateral pressure was excited, and in this way their useful- 

 ness would be, in a great measure, lost. To obviate this diffi- 

 culty the long arms of Arcldtenthis arc furnished with rows 

 and clusters of small protuberances, or tubercles, which are so 

 placed as to fit into the corresponding smooth suckers on the 

 opposing arm, thus securing the union of the two arms beyond 

 the possibility of any slip. This genus has other well marked 

 characteristics, but they are of little general interest and need 

 not be enumerated here. 



Of the three specimens remarked upon by Prof. Verrill, the 

 first was discovered .in a very imperfect condition on the coast 

 of Newfoundland nearly a year ago. It had suffered severe 

 mutilation before it was discovered, having been partially de- 

 voured by foxes and sea fowl. Its head was gone, and all of 

 the arms were gnawed down to within about two feet of the 

 body. What remained of the body and tail measured five 

 and one-half feet in length. The absence of the head, the 

 arms, and a portion of the tail, that is to say, of the most cha- 

 racteristic part of the body, rendered it uncertain to what 

 species the monster belonged. 



The second specimen was discovered by Prof. Verrill dur- 

 the past summer— preserved in alcohol in the museum at Hali- 

 fax—and appears to be an entirely new species, though a care- 

 ful examination shows it to possess the generic characters of 

 the genus Architenthis. It is much smaller than any Idsown 

 species of this genus, its body being only about twelve 

 inches long, while the total length of body, tail and out- 

 stretched arms is altogether less than four feet. One remark- 

 able fact in regard to this specimen is the extreme width o' 

 the tail. This member measures thirteen inches in breadthf 

 and is thus wider than the body is long. This too is the only 

 individual of the genus yet found in which the eyes are per- 

 fect. Fishermen, who have to deal with animals with which 

 they are but imperfectly acquainted, and especially when 

 these animals are as terrible in appearance as the great squids, 

 generally destroy the eyes at once if possible. They seem to 

 think that if they can destroy the creature's sight its power 

 for harm will be lessened, and they are very likely to sWck 

 their boat hooks into the eyes and thus destroy them. This 

 was the case with the specimen now on exhibition in this city, 

 to which reference will be made below. The eyes of this 

 small species was quite remarkable from their shape, being 

 oval instead of round, as would have been expected. Their 

 color in life was probably a dark green "or greenish black. Of 

 the specimen at the Aquarium less need be said, as probably 

 all our New York readers will have seen it before this reaches 

 them. It is of much importance, from a scientific point of view, 

 as it belong to a species the soft parts of which have never 

 before been seen by any naturalist. ArehitcnUiis princeps, 

 Yerrill, was described some time since from a pair of jaws 

 which had been taken from the stomach of a sperm whale, 

 and the capture of this New York specimen is a very happy 

 occurrence^ as it serves to set right one or two points about 

 which naturalists are at fault. The. jaws of this species were 

 very much larger than those of any other large squid, and it 

 was supposed that the animal itself must be proportionately 

 large. This, however, proves not to be the case, as princeps 

 is just about equal in size to monachua, a species with very 

 much smaller jaws. 



The capture of fourteen specimens of these remarkable 

 cephalopods within the past few years indicates that they are 



by no means so rtre as has hitherto been imagined, and the 

 probabilities are that within a few years all of our larger mu- 

 seums will be supplied with specimens. The fishermen of the 

 Newfoundland coast have hitherto been in the habit of cut- 

 ting up these creatures for bait or for dog meat, but in view 

 of the prices which they have lately brought, it is doubtful if 

 many more will be used for these purposes. 



Of the fourteen individuals of this group which, as above 

 remarked, have recently been seemed, thirteen have been 

 taken upon the Atlantic coast and one on the Pacific. The 

 genus seems to be, about this continent at least, quite boreal 

 in habit, aud the specimens secured have almost all been taken 

 on the shores of Newfoundland. 



fish of tlie kind sent you, this being the third or fourth onewe have hart 

 brought home this season. We also had another strange fish which 

 should have been sent to you, but It, was so far decomposed that we 

 could not do so. But if at any time there is any fish caught that I do 

 not know you shall certainly have it sent to you. 

 Respectfully yours, Gloucester Fisu Co. Oake9. 



Aleptdosauetjs. — Two weeks ago we printed in our paper 

 some reference to the capture of a specimen of this exceeding- 

 ly rare fish, which was recently brought to Mr. Eugene G. 

 Blackford, of Fulton Market. Since then the inquiries of Mr. 

 Blackford respecting the habits and habitat of this fish have 

 elicited much interesting information which is contained in 

 the subjoined letters. We are indebted to Mr. Blackford for 

 handing them over to us ; and we may as well say here that 

 Mr. Blackford is daily aceomplishing more for science in bring- 

 ing his strange specimens to the attention of naturalists than 

 any other man in the country. It is fortunate that we have a 

 gentleman in his position whose proclivities lead him to take 

 advantage of the unusual opportunities for the study of iehthy 

 ology which his business affords : 



Smithsonian Institution, Washington, Oct. 2'1, 187?. 

 Mr. E. G. Blackfokd : 



Dear Sir- -Your favor communicating the desired information respect- 

 ing the capture of the Alepidosaurids has come to hand, and interested 

 me very much. I was scarcely prepared for the discovery of the lish In 

 so high a latitude as the northern edge of the " Grand Bank," but never- 

 theless am not much astonished at it. The Alepidosaurids are among 

 those fishes which inhabit the very deep seas, the temperature of which 

 varies comparatively little with latitude, and which may therefore be 

 looke.d for in almost any region where the depth of water and other 

 conditions are suitable. Perhaps you may be interested in some facts 

 respecting the range of this family, and this I take pleasure in giving. 



The Alepidosaurids have been variously arranged in the system by 

 naturalists. At first they were quite generally regarded as being re- 

 lated to the Scomberoid fishes (mackerels, hair-tails, etc.), but the 

 absurd idea that they were related to the Siluroids (catdshes) was at 

 one time seriously put forward by Dr. Gtinthor, the author of a com- 

 plete work on fishes. In 1861, however, Dr. Guntherand I myself (Proc. 

 Acad. Nat. 8c, Phila., p. 152) independently recognized that they were 

 most nearly related to the Paralepidids, and in a much more remote 

 degree to the Salmonids ; but they form a distinct family, represented 

 by five species confined mostly to the deep seas. You doubtless noticed 

 the " looseness " and flaccid condition of the fish you obtained ; such 

 a condition is a pretty certain feature of deep-water habitat, aud is the 

 expression of the grea't pressure to which the animal is subject under 

 the conditions of its habitat. When in eueh deep water it was undoubt- 

 edly as rigid and firm as fishes generally are, aud only under an un- 

 accustomed slight pressure does a laxity of the parts of tbe body super- 

 vene. The family is represented by two genera and at least four 

 species. 



The earliest scientific description of a species of the family was given 

 by Steller, but published for the first time in 1811 in Pallas' "Zoogra- 

 phia Iiusso-Asiattca," in an incidental notice in connection with Salmo 

 Japonersis. Steller obtained a dried specimen while atthe Carib Islands, 

 and gave a moderately good description, naming the fish Plagyodm. 

 Next, the Rev. Mr. Lowe, in 1833, discovered a representative of the 

 family at the island of Madeira, and gave it the name Alejrisaurus 

 ferox. Since then Valenciennes, Gus Richardson, Johnson, Rey, Gunther 

 and myself have obtained specimens, and the following species are now 

 known : 



1. Aleindosaurvs ferox. Found off the Island of Madeira, the Grand 

 Bank, and, if Gnnther's determination is correct (which is very doubt- 

 ful) off Van Diemen's Land. Guntlier records seven specimens pre- 

 served in the British Museum. 



2. Plagyodus boreaiis. Found at the Carib Islands and in Paget 

 Sonnd . 



3. Plagyodus serro. Found off Monterey, G'al. 



i. Plagyodus altivelis. Found off the Island of Cuba. 



The species ol A lepidosaur us Tins nine (or ten) rays in the central litis, 

 and those of Plagyodus thirteen rays in the homologous fins. 



I have been told that Cauloptis boreaiis sometimes ascends into com- 

 paratively shallow water in pursuit of the salmon, aud is known aB tbe 

 " Salmon Killer," but this requires verification. 



The .specimen of A lepidosaurus. ferox sent by you must have been not 

 far from six feet long when entire. The head formed over nine inches 

 of this length, the body about four feet, the short ray of tliecandal about 

 six inches, and the external rays of the latter projected far beyond, bnt 

 being broken their exact dimensions cannot be ascertained ; Uie height 

 (from back to belly) was about five inches ; the dorsal tin has 41 rays, 

 and was high but sinuous, the 4th ray being »^ inches long ; the 10th, 

 1%; the 15th, 9, and the 21th, 10 j^. The aval has 16 rays; the caudal 

 19, besides the supplementary ones (9, 1, 9, S, 1, 8); the pectoral, H; and 

 the ventral, 9. The pectorals are 8 inches long, aud the yen 



I hope intensely that you may be able to secure for the Institution 

 specimens in good condition of this species aud other deep sea forms. 

 Mr. Brevoort has written to me that he has identified a fish caught by 

 a Dutch sea captain in 1679, ou a voyage to America, with this species, 

 aud this is undoubtedly the first recorded example of the fish. 



TUKODOKB Gill, 



The following letter was received by Mr. Blackford in re- 

 sponse to his inquiries respecting the circumstances under 

 which the fish was taken . 

 ty. Gloucester, mass., October 18, it>', ■. 



Mr. K. g. Blackford : 



Sir— The strange fish that waH sent to you was caught on the northern 

 ed«e of the Grand Banks, in a part of the ground called the Gulley, in 

 325 fathoms of water, on a trawl, by one of our halibut catchers, on a 

 piece of ground that, as near as we can understand, represents a valley 

 between two mountains, as the schooner anchored in 175 fathoms of 

 water, and within one hundred yards from tier stern, she had the depth 

 of water mentioned— 325 fathoms ; they also caught 16 sword fish on 

 the same trawl, and the captain told me personally that they hauled up 

 trees, such as are generally to be found on this bottom, so large Unit 

 they could not get them into their dories, and furthermore he said that 

 the bottom must be just the same as if they were in the woods on Bhore; 

 for it seemed that a part of theirtrawl would catch in the branches, 

 and then a short distance would drop down in clear spots, and in the 

 ravines there would be plenty 01 large gray halibut, aud occasionally a 



PROFESSOR COPE AND HIS DISCOV- 

 ERIES IN TEXAS. 



THE HOUSES OF OLD— THE ANTBD1LTJVTAN COWS-HtKls OF TO- 

 DAY WITHOUT THE CLOVEN HOOF. 



TEXAS has lately been favored with a large delegation of 

 members of the American Association of Science, which 

 convened at Nashville, Tennessee. They passed rapidly on 

 the cars througll the country, staying less than half a day at 

 Austin, and remained only about a week in the State, with 

 the exception of Prof. E. D. Cope, the eminent paleontologist 

 of the United States Survey ol the Territories, who remained 

 in Texas several weeks. He has just left Austin for his home 

 at Philadelphia. The specialties of the Professor are verte- 

 brate fossils, also fishes and reptiles. He has been very suc- 

 cessful in obtaining vertebrate fossils in the recent tertiary 

 (pliocene) of Southwestern Texas on the rivers Frio and Me- 

 dina. Of these fossils he has sent to Philadelphia fifteen 

 boxes, a large portion of which are mammalia. Among them 

 are several species of the horse and one species of the bovine 

 genus. Prof. Cope has had a party collecting these bones 

 (luring the summer. Twenty years ago it was generally 

 thought that horses were first introduced into America by the 

 Spaniards^but later investigations prove that both the horse 

 and cow dwelt here at least' as soon or before the creation of 

 man, but they were of different species from ours. In dig- 

 ging wells in Washington County in this Stale at the depth of 

 about 30 feet, bones are frequently met, among which those of 

 the equine species are not uncommon. 



About seventeen years ago a gentleman at New Braunfels 

 gave me several horse teeth which were found at the depth of 

 about 20 feet in the tertiary rocks a few miles south of the 

 town. Prom the size of these teeth the animal must have 

 been nearly as large as the modern horse, but of a different 

 species. 



Prof. Cope also visited the region northwest of San Antonio 

 near the head Waters of the Llano and San Lake Rivers. The 

 rocks here are limestones of the Cretaceous period. These 

 rocks have marine shells, but no bones of the vertebrate were 

 found. Peccaries, or Mexican hogs (Dicotylcs ton//ial us) were 

 quite abundant, being frequently met. A few years ago they 

 lived as far west as the Brazos River, but now they are seldom 

 if ever met much further east than they were lately found by 

 Prof. Cope. Once, the Peccary was said to have lived as far 

 north as Arkansas. It may be that some of them yet live in 

 the timbered region of south-eastern Texas. I never met 

 with any in the northern part of Texas, but I have been told 

 that they arc not fouud in New Mexico. 



Amid the rocks of the hills on the head waters of the Llano, 

 Prof. C. saw a black and gray squirrel, or spermophile (JBper- 

 mopMtut Buckifyh, Slack.) which v> a; described by Dr. Slack in 

 1861, from a specimen which I obtained in Burnet county. 

 They arc about the size of the common black squirrel. In 

 habits they are gregarious, dwelling in rocks and seldom 

 climbing trees. 



Perhaps the most important discovery made by Prof. Cope 

 in western Texas is that of a domestic hog, with undivided 

 hoofs similar to those of a horse. Nature in a freak first 

 made one, and from that more came, and now they are quite 

 numerous and raised for meat. The Professor has the skin 

 and skeleton of one for his collection. This is one of the 

 most important arguments known in favor of evolution, for 

 here we have not only a new genus but probably a new order 

 of animals evolved or created ; but the first change was sudden 

 not gradual. Might it not be called a new creation ? 



Austin, Terns, Oct. 22, 18??. S. B. Booklet. 



>-! » < 



Birds' Nests ln Crruors Places.— Messrs. Holland and 

 Holland pointed out that a bird's nest had been discovered in 

 a coach-box. We have known of nests being discovered in 

 very remarkable positions. The redbreast is the most freakish 

 of all birds in this way. Several years ago a redbreast built 

 its nest inside a human skull that had been left exposed in a 

 burying-gtound in the parish of Dysart, in Fifeshire. That 

 burying-place was then little used, and it is now closed up. 

 We'have seen a redbreast's nest inside an iron tankard that 

 had been cast aside as useless among weeds. At Balbirnie 

 Saw Mills, in the parish of Markinch, a redbreast built its 

 nest, and brought forth a healthy family within a few feet of a 

 circular saw dnily in motion. Another erected its " mossy 

 house" in the heart of an azalia growing in a pot in a green- 

 house at Balbirnie Gardens, We have seen one constructed 

 within the sleeve of a workman's coat that bad been left hang- 

 ing on a tree ; the workman, on making the interesting dis- 

 covery, allowed his coat to remain on the bough, and the red- 

 S labors proved fruitful. We have seen a sparrow's 

 nest inside the cavity of an iron buffer of a railway wagon, 

 and an oXeye's nest in a broken beer-bottle; while not long 

 ago the ik si, of a thrush was pointed out to us inside the spout 

 of a puffip, hut the frequent demand for water caused the 

 thrush's efforts in ncst-bmlding in such a place to be abandon- 

 ed. — Lund and Witter. 



— There have recently been deposited in the South Kensing- 

 ton Museum, in London, six models illustrative of Pueblos, 

 or cliff houses, cave dwellings and lowland settlements, which 

 are found in Southern Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Ari- 

 zona. A similar series Of D On exhibition tit the 

 Centennial, and were no doubt, noticed by many of. the read. 



era of Fo 



