New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-10

Among the novelties OF tins year. under the head
OF Mollusks find species of PiearofOnd noted;
and the Octopus bairdi previously known only by
two or three specimens captured in the Bay Of Fnndy
by the Fish Commission last year Previous TO this
discovery by Prof Yerrill, octopus was known III
American waters hut that of the Florida coast; and
the new devil-fisb was named in honor OF Prof.
Baird. The popular interest in devilshes is proba-
bly, chiefly due 10 the vivid description by Victor
Hugo OF an animal that is quite much the creature
of romance as the rest of the story the great novel
ist having made slight mistake IN examining him.
self for tins essay in natural history. and mixed IN
one the Characteristics Of two widely different crea-
lures, whose French names happened to be some
The SPECIMENS Of Octopus bairdh hitherto found are
males. IL is well known that tho females Of this
genus usually very much larger-n fact utterly
dispropOTtiouate size So that II ls quite possible
that the female JdirdH may he OF formidable dlmen-
sons cannot do better,by way of describing tins
octopus than to transcribe the following particulars
from The AiaericdH hdftUdhst:
Most OF the specimens were kept alive for SEVERAL
ins we're made by Mr. j. H. Emerton. showing its diff
ieren attitudes When al rest IL remained al tne o
tom OF the vessel adherng firmly by some OF the basa
suckers OF It's arms, while the outer portions OF the arms
were cnrled back IN various positions the BODY was
held in nearly horizontal position, and the eyes were
usually hali-closed and had sleepy look; the siphen
usually turned 10 side, and was long enough 10
| be seen IN view from above.
"When disturbed way excited. the eyes
opened more widely, especially at night; the p9ay oe
contracted and rounded, and was held more
erect the small tubercles Its surface and the larger
CScd 9 Of Excitement and watchfanes
rarely, II ever observed actually % creep aDou ~
Of ITS and suckers, but would swim readily
and actively ccling around the pans or lars ~ WILL
| II kept many times before resting again 10 ss'
ming backward, the partial web connecting the Mms
together used organ Of locomoton, as wen az
the sIphOG, for II and the arms were alternately Pia
concdeny with the election OF the water from the 81
pbOu and the arms, after such contraction were al
1 held uDiu
afford the least Resistance Co. tie notion rs tne
motion resulting from each impulse began 10 diminish
| seasbly. the again spread and the same
action repeated. This action Of the arms and wep ie
called thar Of the disk OF the Jelly fishes only 1t was
| much more energetic. ,,.
the direction OF the motions and by bending IL to the
right left SIDE backward motions IN obhque or clsu
lar directions were giveu, but It often bent dlrecy
downward and curved so that the Jet OF water
from propel the animal directly forward
This far as observed, was it's only mode OF mounS
forward. This mode OF swimming forward has prev,
ousy been observed cutie fishes seps) and in squds
| d>oigo This species much more active and AM
mated ~ the night than during toe day and Is propap
nocturnal IN IT'S habits, when at home. None OF tue
specimens could be- Induced take food. aud none sur
was frequently renewed to Keep II cool and pure They
rather roughly handled by the dredge, without
| doubt"
Among noteworthy discoveries in the low forms
of animal lne, the Protozoa furnished two novelties
and although Prot Morse has suggested that TO call
| a man after of the lowest form-to designate
HIM az 81 sponge Ought 20 DO regarded as the
most degrading OF insults, yet when / look upon
| lhese Detuiilhl gIaSs hpohgts am not PIcPHSa
To regard these inferior creatures with disdain
HyaI0HenG Is the subject of one OF tue papers rtdu
and discussed at theAssoclati0n meeting. Hydlonemd
bOrede the glass coral sponge Is one Of this year
discoveries for this coast; HoeHd, the glass brush
| sponge, another. Ii Is not simply that these HAYS
CLASSY luster that has given them their names. Inc
specimens thai Tsaw had exactly the appearance OF
spun glass fresh from the hands OF the gassblower
unlike most marine curiosities they preserve thei
beauty after being dried for the shelves OF the
museum.
| The following Is a rough estimate of the number
Of species found and observed by the Fish Comnis-
sion during its work for 1873 In the waters Of Casco
| Bay aud vicinity:
| |ERTEDRATEs Mammals. Cetacea ......,....'
PinnipedIa ........I
/
Reptiles ...... .CbelVnla. .....'.'.'