206 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



which the comprehensive mind of man is unable even to con- 

 jecture. We cannot, however, doubt but that they have 

 been created by the Almighty for some wise purposes, known 

 to him alone, and in viewing his productions we may well 

 exclaim in the language of the Royal Psalmist : — 



" Oh! Almighty God! 

 How strange thy works! how great thy skill, 

 And every land thy riches fill ; 

 Thy wisdom round the world we see, 

 This spacious earth is full of thee : 

 Nor less thy glories in the deep, 

 Where fish in millions swim and creep ; 

 With wond'rous motions, swift or slow, 

 Still wand'ring in the paths below. 

 There dwells the huge Leviathan* 

 Who foams and sports in spite of man." Dr. Watts.! 



SPECIES I. 



THE AMERICAN SEA SERPENT. 



The animal I am now about describing, created a few years 

 ago many curious conjectures as to its actual existence, both 

 in England as well as in America; however, from the informa- 

 tion I have gathered, I have no doubt of its being one of those 

 unknown animals which occasionally puzzle the zoologist 

 when they make their appearance. I may observe that the 

 account I now present to the reader is derived from my friend 

 Sir Arthur de Capell Brooke's delightful record of his Travels 

 in Norway, &c. 



* The term " Leviatkian" has been supposed by Milton, and many 

 Scriptural authors, to signify the *' Whale" others suppose it to be the 

 " Crocodile." But as alluded to in the Sacred Volume, I venture an 

 opinion that it is the subject of the article : at all events, it would not be 

 inappropriate, if applied to it. 



t Vide Psalm civ. v. 18, 19, & 20, in Dr. Watts's Collection of 

 Psalms and Hymns. 



