GIGANTIC CUTTLE-FISH. 
119 
the two longer tentacula. It is supposed that the animal may- 
have previously lost these in a conflict with some other monster 
of the deep ; it is equally probable, however, that they hung 
down perpendicularly in the water, and were thus lost to sight, 
a position which these organs invariably assume in the smaller 
members of the group when exhausted or approaching dissolu- 
tion. The length of this gigantic Calamary was estimated 
by the numerous witnesses of the engagement to be about 
30 ft., of which between 18 and 20 belonged to the body 
only. MM. Crosse and Fischer, the eminent French con- 
chologists, were so satisfied with the accuracy of M. Bouyer’s 
account and the drawing that accompanied it, that they have 
since republished the former in their “Journal de Conchy- 
liologie,” for 1862, bestowing upon the animal the name of 
Loligo Bouyeri , in honour of the spirited commander of the 
vessel. As unfortunately no portion of this specimen was 
brought home, it is impossible to ascertain whether it was 
identical with either of the species' of Architeuthis previously 
instituted by Professor Steenstrup, or with the Newfoundland 
forms that yet await our notice. Notwithstanding this serious 
drawback, the contribution to our knowledge of these gigan- 
tic Cuttle-fish just cited must be regarded as one of the most 
complete we have yet enumerated. To the dimensions of 
the animal already given, it may be added that the colour of 
the creature was brick red, its long fusiform body was re- 
markably thick towards the centre, the eyes of enormous size, 
fixed, and ghastly to behold, and the fins at the posterior 
extremity rounded, fleshy, and very large. Louis Figuier, in his 
“ Ocean World,” rather brings discredit upon the above account 
by exaggerating the proportions of this Calamary in both his 
text and illustration. 
We now arrive at that portion of our evidence which may be 
regarded as of a more gratifying nature than any yet brought 
forward ; since, by a record of the actual capture and preserva- 
tion of the animals themselves, or the most important portions 
of them, it places us in a position to positively define the 
degree of affinity existing between certain of these monsters 
and the numerous smaller representatives of the group with 
which we were previously acquainted. 
Within the last few months, as is, perhaps, already more or 
less generally known, a considerable sensation has been caused 
throughout the scientific world by the report from Newfound- 
land of a gigantic cephalopod, lately encountered by two fisher- 
men in the neighbourhood of Conception Bay, a tentacle of the 
same 19 feet long being secured for the St. John’s Museum. 
The story of this adventure, as told by the Kev. Mr. Harvey, to 
whom we are also indebted for the steps taken to preserve this 
