GIGANTIC CUTTLE-FISH. 
123 
few weeks previously ; it, however, far surpasses the larger one 
in importance, since through it, we are for the first time placed 
in full possession of the entire structure of one of these 
ocean monsters. 
Additional evidence is supplied by Mr. Harvey of other 
gigantic Cuttle-fish previously seen on the coast of Newfound- 
land : two in particular measuring respectively 40 ft. and 47 ft., 
having, as stated by the Rev. Mr. Gabriel, been cast ashore in 
the winter of 1870-71, near Lamaline, on the south coast of 
the island. Reliable evidence is also given of another monster 
stranded two years later, which in total length measured no less 
than 80 ft. 
Professor A. E. Verrill, in a very interesting contribution to 
44 Silliman’s American Journal,” reproduced in the 44 Annals and 
Magazine of Natural History ” for March last, enumerates, with 
the foregoing, authenticated testimony of three other similar 
monsters from the Newfoundland coast. One of these was 
found floating (apparently dead) near the Grand Banks, in 
October 1871, by Captain Campbell, of the schooner B. D. 
Haskins , of Gloucester, Mass. It was taken on board, and 
part of it used for bait. The body of this specimen is stated to 
have been 15 feet long ; and the portions of the arms remaining, 
which were much mutilated, were estimated at a length of from 
between 9 and 10 feet; the beak was forwarded to the 
Smithsonian Institution, and is now in the hands of Professor 
Verrill, for the purpose of description and illustration. Professor 
Steenstrup, who has seen a photograph of this beak, thinks it 
may possibly belong to the still very imperfectly known form 
which inhabits the northern coasts of Europe, and which, as 
stated at p. 117, he has proposed to distinguish as Architeuthis 
monachus. 
Another specimen is quoted by Professor Verrill as having 
been found alive in shallow water at Coombes Cove. The body 
of this example is stated to have measured 10 ft. in length, 
the arms 6 ft., and one of the tentacles as much as 42 ft. 
In addition to this, he mentions a pair of jaws and two suckers, 
deposited in the Smithsonian Institution, received from the 
Rev. A. Munn, who states that they were taken from a specimen 
that came ashore in Bonavista Bay, and which measured in 
entire length 32 feet. This example, together with the one 
last named, and the species represented by the long tentacle 
and perfect specimen secured for the St. John’s Museum, Pro- 
fessor Verrill considers may be identical with Steenstrup’s 
Architeuthis dux . 
Previous to the appearance in this country of Professor 
Verrill’s interesting remarks on these Newfoundland specimens, 
a communication on the same subject was sent by the author of 
