Interpretations of Primitive American Decorative Art

Abstract

DR. H. O. FORBES in his communication on “Pre-Columbian Representations of the Elephant in America” in NATURE of August 2, p. 174, makes some statements on which I would like to offer comment. In his attempt to discover a basis in the Cephalopoda for the decorative motifs under discussion, Dr. Forbes states (p. 176) that “In the argonaut, the two central arms, when all are spread, are often so closely apposed as to appear a single very broad tentacle—a feature very conspicuous in the South Atlantic Bathypolypus.” Now “central” arms can either mean the second and third of each side or possibly the first and last of both sides (the dorsal and ventral pairs). In either case Dr. Forbes's statement is inaccurate, so far as I can judge from the examination of numerous specimens and figures of Argonauta. The arms in question are not thus “closely apposed as to appear a single very broad tentacle.” The statement seems to be likewise inapplicable in the case of Bathypolypus. This genus was founded in 1921 by Grimpe. It was not defined by him though he designated the type (Octopus arcticus Prosch). A definition prepared by myself, after correspondence with Dr. Grimpe, is hi the press at the present moment. This genus includes Octopus arcticus Prosch, faeroensi Russel, lentus Verrill (N. Atlantic), and grimpei Robson (M.S.), and valdivi Thiele (S. Atlantic). It is doubtful at present what others should go into it. In any event, the two South Atlantic species have not the characters attributed by Dr. Forbes to the genus.