98 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Habitat. — Off East Moncoeur Island, Bass Strait ; 38 fathoms 
(Station 162). 1 specimen, ?. 
Off Twofold Bay, Australia; 150 fathoms (Station 163 a). 2 
specimens, 1 6, 1 juv. 
Octopus australis , Hoyle. 
Octopus australis, Hoyle, Ann. and Maq. Nat. Hist., ser. 5, vol. xv. 
p. 224, 1885. 
The Body is rounded, and wider behind than in front; depressed, 
and with a well-marked ventral median groove. A sharp narrow 
ridge extends along either side of the body to the posterior 
extremity.* The mantle-opening extends nearly half round the 
body. The siphon is of medium size, at first the lateral margins 
are parallel and then tapering rapidly to a blunt point ; it extends 
less than halfway to the umbrella margin. 
The Head is narrower than the body, and the eyes somewhat pro- 
minent, dorsally rather than laterally. 
The Arms are unequal, the lateral being slightly the largest, and 
about three times as long as the body ; they are slender and 
tapering. The umbrella is longer than the length of the body ; 
larger ventrally than dorsally, and larger laterally than ventrally. 
The suckers are prominent and closely set ; they are altogether 
larger on the lateral arms, and extend in a double row to the centre ; 
the radial grooves are deep, and extend quite to the margins. The 
hectocotylus is absent. 
The Surface of the back of the body, head, and dorsal aspects 
of the umbrella and arms is covered with thick-set hemispherical 
pimples, which are also found on the inner side of the membrane 
between the two dorsal arms, and on the inner surfaces of the arms 
between the suckers. They are smaller and more sparse on the 
ventral surface of the body. A large rough cirrus and a few larger 
pimples are found over each eye. A raised ridge passes backwards 
from the base of the siphon along the ventro-lateral margin of the 
body, meeting its fellow of the opposite side at the posterior 
extremity.* 
* I have considerable doubt whether this be really one of the specific 
characters ; but as it occurs in both specimens, I have thought it well to 
men don it 
